Marine Biopharmaceuticals: Scope and Prospects

This chapter deals with the role of seas and oceans in human life; marine biodiversity; marine drugs and their origin; groups of marine biota as sources of drugs; importance and advantages of the production of marine drugs; pharmaceutical marine biodiversity in the development of marine drugs; existing problems in the development of new marine drugs; and remedial measures for the adequate supply of bioactive compounds for the production of cost-effective new drugs for various diseases.

 This chapter deals with the types of marine ecosystems and their pharmaceutical biodiversity; the present status of marine bioactive compounds and their chemical classes; therapeutic activities of marine bioactive compounds; level of contribution of bioactive compounds by different groups of marine organisms; green processing methods of marine drug development; and measures to tackle supply problems of bioactive compounds. 

This chapter deals with the promising marine bioactive compounds of marine plants such as, seaweeds, seagrasses, mangroves, and halophytes; and their chemistry and therapeutic applications. Among the different constituents, the seaweeds in general and brown and red algae exhibited a variety of bioactivities followed by mangroves, seagrasses, and halophytes in that order.

This chapter deals with the promising bioactive compounds of the marine sponge species belonging to the classes Calcarea and Demospongiae. Further, the chemical classes and the bioactivities of these secondary metabolites are dealt with.

This chapter deals with the promising secondary metabolites of the different constituents of marine cnidarians viz. hydrozoan medusae, scyphozoan medusae and soft corals and their bioactivities. Among the chemical classes of compounds, terpenoids ranked first and cytotoxicity of these compounds was the major activity. 

This chapter deals with the pharmaceutically important marine bryozoans, their promising secondary metabolites, and bioactivities. All the bioactive compounds of this marine invertebrate group are dealt with as per their chemical classes.

This chapter deals with the promising bioactive compounds of marine worms such as nemertines, sipunculids, and annelids. Further, the chemical classes and the bioactivities of these secondary metabolites are dealtwith.

This chapter deals with the promising bioactive compounds of marine shellfish viz. crustaceans, molluscs, and echinoderms. Among the marine crustaceans, the extracts of shrimps and crabs containing astaxanthin showed major bioactivities. On the other hand, among molluscs, gastropods possessed the maximum number of secondary metabolites and associated bioactivities compared to the bivalves and cephalopods. Further, among echinoderms, the asteroids and holothurians showed maximum number of secondary metabolites compared to their counterparts viz. echinoids and crinoids.

This chapter deals with the pharmaceutically important species of the subphylum Tunicata of the phylum Chordata; their secondary metabolites and their bioactivities. 

This chapter deals with the bioactive potential of the different groups of marine fishes viz. cartilaginous, bony, and jawless fish species.

This chapter deals with the marine biopharmaceutical compounds acting against SARS-CoV-2. The promising compounds derived for anti-coronal activity were from marine plants such as cyanobacteria (blue-green algae), green algae, brown algae, and red algae. Among marine invertebrates, only sponges and soft corals contributed with their active bioactive compounds. The chemistry and mechanism of action of the different bioactive compounds have also been dealt with.

This chapter deals with the marine biopharmaceuticals in the pipeline i.e. year-wise number of approved marine drugs during the period 1969-2021 and their clinical uses; approved and marketed drugs up to 2021; marine biota-derived drug candidates under the different phases of clinical trials up to 2021; and marine biotaderived clinical level compounds against SARS-CoV-2.

This chapter deals with the importance and recent status of marine biopharmaceuticals and the need for popularizing this aspect; the introduction and scope of Marine Bio-Pharmacy as an interdisciplinary PG course; suggested syllabus for taught program and practicals in the event of its introduction; and career opportunities for the Marine Bio-Pharmacy graduates.