Clavulones and related tert-hydroxycyclopentenone fatty acids: occurrence, physiological activity and problem of...

The present review is concerned with a group of prostanoids from soft corals, namely, clavulones and their congeners, as well as with related octadecanoids found in plants of the genus Chromolaena (Compositae). Known physiological properties of these prostaglandin-like fatty acids are discussed. Special attention is paid to published hypotheses on the biogenetic origin of clavulones and related fatty acids. According to a newly proposed biosynthetic route, acyclic alpha-ketols are metabolic precursors of cyclopentenolones.