S-(+)-methyl ester of hanishin from the marine sponge Agelas ceylonica.

In a continuation of a search for biologically active molecules from marine organisms (Venkateswarlu et al., 1999) we investigated the sponge Agelas ceylonica belonging to the family Agelasidae. The sponge was collected at a depth of 30 f by skin diving near the Mandapam coast (N 173, E 833) India, during October 1997. A voucher specimen (IIC } 338) has been deposited at the museum of National Institute of Oceanography, Goa, India.