As discussed under nucleotide sequences many chemical compounds have been elucidated from Rhabdastrella globostellata, including proteins, cytotoxic chemicals and secondary metabolites. Rhabdastrella globostellata, like many sponge species holds a wealth of bacterial symbionts within its tissues (Lafi et al., 2005; Lafi et al., 2009). Bacterial isolates have been  characterised by 16S rRNA gene sequencing and phylogenetic analysis, with the microbial community displaying shared characteristics at genus level (Lafi et al., 2005). Through these interactions biochemical products are synthesised as secondary metabolites, that hold great interest to the drug manufacturing industry (Thomas et al., 2010).

Bioactive isomalabaricane triterpenes are emerging as possible chemotaxonomic markers for Rhabdastrella globostellata and good indicators of sponge phylogeny (Kennedy, 2000; Tasdemir et al., 2002; Clement et al., 2006). Their properties include active cytotoxicity in ovarian cancer cell lines (Clement et al., 2002) and liver tumour cells (Tasdemir et al., 2002). Due to their cytotoxic properties, they have become therapeutic targets and many are involved in clinical trails as new drug candidates (Thomas et al., 2010).