Isolation and some properties of ciguatoxin

Ciguatoxin, the principal toxin of ciguatera produced by a toxic dinoflagellate and accumulated through the food chain in the viscera of moray eels, was purified. The probable molecular formula C60H86O19 was obtained for the first time by high resolution mass spectrometry. 1H NMR spectra suggested the presence of a primary hydroxyl group suitable for preparing an antigen necessary to develop an enzyme immunoassay.