Overview of bioactivity studies on marine natural products

Abstract

Marine natural products are sourced from marine biodiversity as natural raw materials for various commercial products. This study aims to review natural products of marine organisms and gap analysis for future research or challenges. A total of 109 references from 24 countries were collected. The analysis was carried out quantitatively and qualitatively. The bioactive compounds produced wereantioxidants, antibacterial, anticancer, antimicrobial, anti-fouling, antifungal, and anti-tumoral substances. Some marine organisms that can store chemical compounds through secondary metabolite processes are mangroves, seagrasses, macroalgae, microalgae, soft corals, molluscs, echinoderms, gastropods, cnidarians, sponges, fungi, and bacteria. Most of the papers only discuss the identification stage of the active compound, and some focus on product development. There are very few studies on prospects of commercialization and mass production. The problem to achieve mass production is due to the lack of interdisciplinary research collaboration. Future research challenges need to develop a transdisciplinary approach to study bioprospection research from upstream to downstream, starting from the potential identification of bioactive ingredients, product development, the availability of raw materials for mass production as well as commercialization and marketing.

Antioxidant Activity, Inhibition of Intestinal Cancer Cell Growth and Polyphenolic Compounds of the Seagrass Posidonia oceanica’s Extracts from Living Plants and Beach Casts

“…Seagrasses are an important source of bioactive metabolites, with antioxidant, anticancer, antibacterial, antifungal and antihypertensive activities [ 10 , 50 , 51 , 52 ]. Although these activities have not been systematically investigated, due to the great seagrass biodiversity [ 13 ], bioactive compounds have been isolated from several seagrass species (see review articles written by Zamani et al [ 10 ] and Kim et al [ 40 ]), including Posidonia oceanica [ 31 , 32 , 33 , 34 , 35 , 39 , 40 ] ( Table S2 ). Some of seagrasses’ compounds exhibit antioxidant properties.…”

“…Since 70% of the earth’s surface is covered by seas and oceans, marine organisms can be an important source of new bioactive compounds promoting human health [ 10 ]. Seagrasses have various uses for humans, such as food, medicine, and biofuels, while several of their compounds have exhibited antioxidant, anticancer, anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, antiviral, antidiabetic, vasoprotective and hemolytic activities [ 10 , 11 , 12 ].…”

“…Since 70% of the earth’s surface is covered by seas and oceans, marine organisms can be an important source of new bioactive compounds promoting human health [ 10 ]. Seagrasses have various uses for humans, such as food, medicine, and biofuels, while several of their compounds have exhibited antioxidant, anticancer, anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, antiviral, antidiabetic, vasoprotective and hemolytic activities [ 10 , 11 , 12 ]. Recent review articles [ 10 , 11 ] summarized the bioactive components isolated from marine seagrasses such as Posidonia oceanica , Thalassia ciliatum , T. hemprichii , T. testudinum , Zostera marina , Z. noltii , Cymodocea nodosa, C. serrulata, Enhalus acoroides, Ruppia maritima, R. cirrhosa, Halophila stipulacea and H. ovalis.…”

“…Seagrasses have various uses for humans, such as food, medicine, and biofuels, while several of their compounds have exhibited antioxidant, anticancer, anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, antiviral, antidiabetic, vasoprotective and hemolytic activities [ 10 , 11 , 12 ]. Recent review articles [ 10 , 11 ] summarized the bioactive components isolated from marine seagrasses such as Posidonia oceanica , Thalassia ciliatum , T. hemprichii , T. testudinum , Zostera marina , Z. noltii , Cymodocea nodosa, C. serrulata, Enhalus acoroides, Ruppia maritima, R. cirrhosa, Halophila stipulacea and H. ovalis. However, the activities of bioactive substances derived from marine macrophytes, especially that of the seagrasses, have not been thoroughly investigated, due to their great biodiversity [ 13 ].…”