Murex

Abstract: Marine molluscs from the family Muricidae are the source of a homeopathic remedy Murex, which is used to treat a range of conditions, including cancer. The aim of this study was to evaluate the in vitro bioactivity of egg mass extracts of the Australian muricid Dicathais orbita, in comparison to the Murex remedy, against human carcinoma and lymphoma cells. Liquid chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry (LC-MS) was used to characterize the chemical composition of the extracts and homeopathic remedy, focusing on biologically active brominated indoles. The MTS (tetrazolium salt) colorimetric assay was used to determine effects on cell viability, while necrosis and apoptosis induction were investigated using flow cytometry (propidium iodide and Annexin-V staining, resp.). Cells were treated with varying concentrations (1–0.01 mg/mL) of crude and semi-purified extracts or preparations (dilute 1 M and concentrated 4 mg/mL) from the Murex remedy (4 h). The Murex remedy showed little biological activity against the majority of cell lines tested. In contrast, the D. orbita egg extracts significantly decreased cell viability in the majority of carcinoma cell lines. Flow cytometry revealed these extracts induce necrosis in HT29 colorectal cancer cells, whereas apoptosis was induced in Jurkat cells. These findings highlight the biomedical potential of Muricidae extracts in the development of a natural therapy for the treatment of neoplastic tumors and lymphomas.

Abstract: The high-performance liquid chromatographic technique is utilized to analyze the dye components of crude “Tyrian Purple” residues obtained from modern Murex (Trunculariopsis) trunculus sea snails and from an archaeological source. This is the first time that this technique has been used to analyze these raw pigments. Previously, chromatographic analyses of cloth stains and textile vat dyeings produced from contemporary snails were published. The modern purple pigment analyzed in this study was produced from excised hypobranchial glands of trunculus snails, and the archaeological purple residue investigated was found on the interior of a potsherd from Tel Kabri, Israel. The two pigments studied showed nearly identical chromatographic fingerprints: The pigments consisted of the same four indigoid components and with matching compositions. The dyes found were indigotin, monobromoindigotin, dibromoindigotin, and a fourth colorant that may be dibromoindirubin. The following conclusions can be made regarding the archaeological sample: (1) the ancient potsherd bearing the purple pigment was from an ancient dyeing vat; (2) the biological provenance of the archaeological dyestuff was most probably Murex trunculus mollusks; and (3) the Mediterranean snails used for the vat were likely collected at or near the Akhziv beach area in Israel. This study indicates that a biological and geographical chromatographic mapping of the dye components of porphyra snails can be developed to assist in provenance determinations of archaeological purple pigments.

Abstract: Since time immemorial attractive colours have held man's attention. Occasionally he has assigned to them symbolic significance, often as religious or status insignia. The various shades of reds and purples have been especially chosen; some see in them the colour of blood, the sun or fire. The presence of ochre and haematite in Palaeolithic burials may be the first instance of the high regard for these colours.Probably the most famous red–purple colour associated with religion, status and general elitism is the shell-based purple-dye of the ancient Mediterranean, known variously as Royal purple, Tyrian purple or Imperial purple. The recent discovery of crushed purple-dye producing shells at Berenice provided a welcome addition to this field, a study which Alexander Dedekind, in the 1890s, termed “Pourprologie”.Before examining the Berenice shells and their context a brief survey will be made of the world-wide usage of shell purple-dye, its Mediterranean origin and distribution, the basic method of production and the contemporary Mediterranean history of the Berenice finds.Purple-dye is obtained from the hypobranchial gland found in the mantle cavity of living Murex and Thais (or related Purpura and Nucella) marine snails. The purpose of this gland is unclear, though it may be the reason such shells are avoided as food by marine life (and are thus not a useful fish bait). The dye might also be ejected by the mollusc as a defence mechanism, much like the black ink of the octopus or squid.