Since life on earth first evolved in the marine environment, marine organisms have acquired an extremely diversified ability to produce secondary metabolites with unique structural and functional properties. Approximately 28,500 marine natural products had been identified by the end of 2016, that present a range of biological activities, including anti-cancer, anti-bacterial, anti-fungal, and anti-viral activities. While until the beginning of the last decade the discovery of metabolites from marine microorganisms has been quite limited in number, the number of novel metabolites currently isolated from cultures of marine microorganisms is now the largest in number, especially of metabolites isolated from cultures of marine-derived fungi. Hence, microorganisms remain a source of novel biological molecules with diversified applications. Besides marine organisms, there are micro-algae, and macro-algae, mainly seaweeds, producing a large array of natural products with relevance in drug discovery. Consequently, several of the metabolites have made it to the advanced stages of clinical trials, and a few of them are commercially available. Especially, lower organisms elaborate a multitude of secondary metabolites as signalling molecules for “defence and offence”. These compounds, which belong to diverse chemical classes, can act as potential therapeutics for healthcare. Marine bacteria produce a large repertoire of secondary metabolites to survive in hostile oceanic conditions. Among others, thermophilic and archaea bacteria elaborate thermostable enzymes which belong to diverse classes.
Currently, over 3200 novel products have been extracted from macro-algae, the majority of which come from subtropical and tropical waters. Compounds with medical applications, such as antioxidant, antifouling, anticoagulant, antibacterial, antifungal, and anthelminthic activities, have been detected in macroalgae. Red seaweeds are proposed as anticoagulants, anthelmintic, and in the treatments of gastritis and diarrhoea in humans. Brown seaweeds are applied to cure rheumatic diseases, hypertension, arteriosclerosis, menstrual disorders, skin diseases, gastric ulcers, goitre, and syphilis and are also used as anticoagulants. Polysaccharides, such as ulvans from green seaweeds, alginates, fucans, laminarin from brown seaweeds, and carrageenans and porphyrans from red seaweeds, can stimulate defence responses against plant pathogens. Thus, marine algae yield a large diversity of bio-active metabolites and appear to be a potential resource of interesting pharmacological substances.
Marine-derived enzymes have recently gained attention, particularly for industrial applications. Cellulose-degrading enzymes are among the leading biocatalysts with potential utility in biorefineries. Cellulase production by marine sources from microorganisms including bacteria, yeasts, and moulds to marine invertebrates such as protists, rotifer, molluscs, arthropods, and echinoderms. Cellulose-degrading ability of marine invertebrates is attributed to the production of endogenous cellulases and activities by the symbionts. Furthermore, the marine environment is considered a source of novel microorganisms with a particular trait of cold-adaptation and where the salt and alkali tolerance can serve as a unique reservoir for dextranase. Such enzymes are already in demand in various commercial sections, particularly for the formulation of improved detergents, for the development of environmental biosensors, and as a carrier matrix for bioremediation and novel medicines. Therefore, there is enormous scope to explore such an untouched field to utilize for the betterment of human health and welfare around the world.
Marine-derived natural products including different enzymes have shown many potential characteristics in-vitro and limited in-vivo research, but there is not enough information on such to utilize this information for the betterment of their applications or possible downstream applications in human health, livestock and food industries.
Hence, this Research Topic is dedicated to collecting original research articles or mini/extended reviews regarding marine natural products specifically derived from bacteria, fungi, mould, microalgae and macroalgae, with emphasis on the discovery of natural derivatives that show interesting pharmacological and potential applications in the food or cosmetic industry. We welcome themes on marine biotechnology, antioxidant, antimicrobial, anticancer, anti-inflammatory, anti-diabetic, sexual dysfunction, etc. In addition, clinical trial studies along with animal models are also welcome.
Since life on earth first evolved in the marine environment, marine organisms have acquired an extremely diversified ability to produce secondary metabolites with unique structural and functional properties. Approximately 28,500 marine natural products had been identified by the end of 2016, that present a range of biological activities, including anti-cancer, anti-bacterial, anti-fungal, and anti-viral activities. While until the beginning of the last decade the discovery of metabolites from marine microorganisms has been quite limited in number, the number of novel metabolites currently isolated from cultures of marine microorganisms is now the largest in number, especially of metabolites isolated from cultures of marine-derived fungi. Hence, microorganisms remain a source of novel biological molecules with diversified applications. Besides marine organisms, there are micro-algae, and macro-algae, mainly seaweeds, producing a large array of natural products with relevance in drug discovery. Consequently, several of the metabolites have made it to the advanced stages of clinical trials, and a few of them are commercially available. Especially, lower organisms elaborate a multitude of secondary metabolites as signalling molecules for “defence and offence”. These compounds, which belong to diverse chemical classes, can act as potential therapeutics for healthcare. Marine bacteria produce a large repertoire of secondary metabolites to survive in hostile oceanic conditions. Among others, thermophilic and archaea bacteria elaborate thermostable enzymes which belong to diverse classes.
Currently, over 3200 novel products have been extracted from macro-algae, the majority of which come from subtropical and tropical waters. Compounds with medical applications, such as antioxidant, antifouling, anticoagulant, antibacterial, antifungal, and anthelminthic activities, have been detected in macroalgae. Red seaweeds are proposed as anticoagulants, anthelmintic, and in the treatments of gastritis and diarrhoea in humans. Brown seaweeds are applied to cure rheumatic diseases, hypertension, arteriosclerosis, menstrual disorders, skin diseases, gastric ulcers, goitre, and syphilis and are also used as anticoagulants. Polysaccharides, such as ulvans from green seaweeds, alginates, fucans, laminarin from brown seaweeds, and carrageenans and porphyrans from red seaweeds, can stimulate defence responses against plant pathogens. Thus, marine algae yield a large diversity of bio-active metabolites and appear to be a potential resource of interesting pharmacological substances.
Marine-derived enzymes have recently gained attention, particularly for industrial applications. Cellulose-degrading enzymes are among the leading biocatalysts with potential utility in biorefineries. Cellulase production by marine sources from microorganisms including bacteria, yeasts, and moulds to marine invertebrates such as protists, rotifer, molluscs, arthropods, and echinoderms. Cellulose-degrading ability of marine invertebrates is attributed to the production of endogenous cellulases and activities by the symbionts. Furthermore, the marine environment is considered a source of novel microorganisms with a particular trait of cold-adaptation and where the salt and alkali tolerance can serve as a unique reservoir for dextranase. Such enzymes are already in demand in various commercial sections, particularly for the formulation of improved detergents, for the development of environmental biosensors, and as a carrier matrix for bioremediation and novel medicines. Therefore, there is enormous scope to explore such an untouched field to utilize for the betterment of human health and welfare around the world.
Marine-derived natural products including different enzymes have shown many potential characteristics in-vitro and limited in-vivo research, but there is not enough information on such to utilize this information for the betterment of their applications or possible downstream applications in human health, livestock and food industries.
Hence, this Research Topic is dedicated to collecting original research articles or mini/extended reviews regarding marine natural products specifically derived from bacteria, fungi, mould, microalgae and macroalgae, with emphasis on the discovery of natural derivatives that show interesting pharmacological and potential applications in the food or cosmetic industry. We welcome themes on marine biotechnology, antioxidant, antimicrobial, anticancer, anti-inflammatory, anti-diabetic, sexual dysfunction, etc. In addition, clinical trial studies along with animal models are also welcome.
