Handbook of Marine Natural Products

"Handbook of Marine Natural Products" takes a fresh approach to describing the major themes of research in this rapidly developing field. This two volume reference work begins with a section that provides a taxonomic survey of the secondary metabolites of diverse marine life including microbes, algae, and invertebrates. This is followed by a demonstration of the techniques and strategies employed in modern structure elucidation of complex natural products. The natural roles of marine natural products are then explored in a series of focused chapters which include the topics of symbiosis, anti-predation and antifouling, chemical interactions, and defence against UV stress. Various routes which facilitate the understanding of marine natural product biosynthesis are subsequently explained and these are followed by an extensive set of chapters on the biomedical potential of marine natural products. The latter portion of this section considers the technologies and scientific disciplines necessary for advancing bioactive marine natural product lead compounds into actual pharmaceuticals. The reference work finishes with a selection of chapters describing marine toxins and their impact on public health and seafood resources. Final thoughts presented at the end of the second volume focus on the future of this field of investigation and discovery research.

This publication is presented as a reference handbook and general concepts are emphasized and illustrated with numerous interesting examples, graphical information, and a comprehensive index. "Handbook of Marine Natural Products" introduces students who are at advanced undergraduate and entry graduate student levels to this fascinating multidisciplinary field. It is an ideal desk companion  for courses focusing on this contemporary area.

Ernesto Fattorusso; Full Professor of Organic Chemistry at the University of Naples "Federico II"

William H. Gerwick; Full Professor of Oceanography and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of California, San Diego

Orazio Taglialatela-Scafati; Associate Professor of Organic Chemistry at the University of Naples "Federico II"

All three editors have previously written books:

1. Modern Alkaloids. Structure, Isolation, Synthesis, and Biology. (E. Fattorusso and O. Taglialatela-Scafati eds.). Wiley Ed., October 2007.
2. Flavour and Fragrance Chemistry (V. Lanzotti and O. Taglialatela-Scafati eds.). Kluwer Academic Publisher, November 2000.
3. Oceans and Human Health, Risks and Remedies from the Sea (P.J. Walsh, S.L. Smith, L.E. Fleming, H.M. Solo-Gabriele, W.H. Gerwick) Academic Press (Elsevier) 2008.

Ernesto Fattorusso was assistant professor at the University of Naples (1963-75); in 1975 he became full Professor of Organic Chemistry at the Faculty of Science. In 1980 he moved to the Faculty of Pharmacy, where he was elected Dean twice. In 2002 he won the A. Quilico Award (Società Chimica Italiana) and in 2004 the P. Scheuer Award (Akademie of Erfurt). He has published more than 300 research papers.


Orazio Taglialatela Scafati got the Ph.D. in "Bioactive Natural Products" in 1997, under the supervision of Prof. Fattorusso. Currently, he is Associate Professor in Organic Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Naples "Federico II".
His research interests deal with isolation, structure elucidation and semisynthetic transformations of bioactive secondary metabolites from marine invertebrates and terrestrial plants. He is the author of 45 research papers and the editor of the book "Flavour and Fragrance Chemistry".