Did you know that less than 5% of the ocean floor has been explored in detail due to its poor accessibility?

The oceans and seas occupy a large part of the Earth’s surface (about 70%), representing the planet’s largest resource, with immense and largely unexplored biodiversity. In fact, less than 5% of the ocean floor has been explored in detail due to its poor accessibility1,2,3. Interactions between marine organisms have given rise to a multitude of unique bioactive compounds, different from those found in terrestrial environments, developed essentially during the relationships within the ecosystem, both biotic and abiotic, and in the “routine” of living beings, in predation, symbiosis, mating, among others1,2,4,5.

These compounds are characterized by being structurally distinct and highly selective with regard to their molecular targets. It is precisely this selectivity and multiplicity of cellular markers that makes them interesting and with enormous potential for use in the pharmaceutical industry3.

What is the oldest recorded compound of marine origin? Tyrian purple dye, used to dye fabrics.

Historically, the oldest recorded compound of marine origin dates back to around 1600 BC – Tyrian purple dye – extracted from marine mollusks by the Phoenicians, and used to dye fabrics used by the upper classes due to its high market value. Since then, human interest in exploiting these resources has focused on living organisms visible to the naked eye and relatively easy to access: fish and seaweed.

Only in the second half of the 20th century, due to technological and scientific advancements, particularly in isolation and chemical characterization techniques, has it been possible to overcome obstacles and begin a more serious and fruitful exploration of marine resources and the identification of marine compounds of pharmacological interest. During this period, there was also greater sophistication, regulation, and evolution in the tests performed on people, in order to understand, with a greater degree of care and rigor, the applications and implications of the use of these compounds in humans.

Data from the beginning of the 21st century regarding compounds of marine origin indicate that about half are extracted from marine microorganisms, revealing a growing interest in this type of organism. Microorganisms exhibit great chemical diversity, with high selectivity and diversity of molecular targets, which enhances their efficiency.

Discover five important compounds originating from the ocean with applications in pharmaceuticals

Below, we will present a selection of compounds of marine origin with distinct pharmacological applications:

1 – Trabectedin (trade name: Yondelis®) – a drug used in the treatment of ovarian cancer and also in soft tissue sarcoma cancer, being used when the use of other drugs is not effective. It is extracted from the Caribbean ascidian *Ecteinascidia turbinata*.

2 – Ziconotide (trade name: Prialt®) – a non-narcotic neuropathic analgesic drug used to treat severe chronic pain when patients do not respond to other medications. It is isolated from the mollusk Conus magnus.

3 – Cytosine arabinoside (trade name: Citarabina®) – a drug used to treat some types of leukemia, extracted from Caribbean sea sponges Tectitethya crypta.

4 – Adenine arabinoside (trade name: Vidarabina®) – an antiviral drug used in infections caused by herpes simplex virus types 1 and 2, extracted from the bacterium Streptomyces antibioticus.

5 – Didemnin B – a drug currently in clinical trials intended for use in cancer treatment, which has also shown antiviral and immunosuppressive potential. It is extracted from the mollusk Conus magnus.

Like these compounds, there are numerous others already identified, extracted, and purified that the scientific community believes have immense potential in the field of pharmacology, and which could be subjected to clinical trials to assess their safety and efficacy.

However, these compounds come from only a very small percentage of marine organisms, leading the scientific community to extrapolate countless compounds that may yet be identified, with potential use in fields such as nutraceuticals, pharmacogenetics, cosmetics, among others.

The sea and marine life demonstrate, once again, their importance to human health and quality of life, making their exploration and preservation crucial.

Referências:

1. Costa-lotufo LV, Wilke DV, Jimenez PC, Epifanio RDA. Marine organisms as a source of new pharmaceuticals: History and perspectives. Quim Nova. 2009;32(3):703–16.

2. Newman DJ, Cragg GM. Drugs and Drug Candidates from Marine Sources: An Assessment of the Current “state of Play.” Planta Med. 2016;82(9–10):775–89.

3. Lindequist U. Marine-derived pharmaceuticals – challenges and opportunities. Biomol Ther. 2016;24(6):561–71.