article · Marine Drugs
Marine molluscs represent a highly diverse group of organisms that serve as valuable sources of both nutraceuticals and medicinal drug candidates. Extraction techniques can isolate a broad variety of bioactive substances from these organisms, including proteins, bioactive peptides, polysaccharides, lipids, polyphenols, enzymes, minerals, and vitamins. Pharmacologically, compounds obtained from marine molluscs demonstrate antimicrobial, anticancer, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and analgesic activities. Certain groups, particularly abalones and mussels, contain unique chemical compounds with specific therapeutic potential, including applications in wound healing and cancer therapies. Profiling the biochemical ecology and extraction pathways of these species establishes their relevance across dietary and pharmaceutical domains, supporting ongoing investigation into their functional roles for human health.
Marine organisms represent an expansive reservoir of natural compounds that can support human health. Investigating the nutritional and medicinal components of marine molluscs assists researchers in identifying novel alternatives to synthetic medicines. This understanding helps guide the discovery of natural agents capable of tackling challenging conditions such as chronic inflammation, severe wounds, microbial infections, and cancer.
This research could inform product development by pharmaceutical developers and nutraceutical manufacturers seeking marine-derived ingredients for dietary supplements or therapeutics. Outlined applications include wound-healing products and anti-cancer therapies. However, as this work synthesises broad pharmacological activities and extraction techniques across diverse species, the findings remain at an early review stage rather than ready for immediate market deployment.
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Marine molluscs are of enormous scientific interest due to their astonishing diversity in terms of their size, shape, habitat, behaviour, and ecological roles. The phylum Mollusca is the second most common animal phylum, with 100,000 to 200,000 species, and marine molluscs are among the most notable class of marine organisms. This work aimed to show the importance of marine molluscs as a potential source of nutraceuticals as well as natural medicinal drugs. In this review, the main classes of marine molluscs, their chemical ecology, and the different techniques used for the extraction of bioactive compounds have been presented. We pointed out their nutraceutical importance such as their proteins, peptides, polysaccharides, lipids, polyphenolic compounds pigments, marine enzymes, minerals, and vitamins. Their pharmacological activities include antimicrobial, anticancer, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and analgesic activities. Moreover, certain molluscs like abalones and mussels contain unique compounds with potential medicinal applications, ranging from wound healing to anti-cancer effects. Understanding the nutritional and therapeutic value of marine molluscs highlights their significance in both pharmaceutical and dietary realms, paving the way for further research and utilization in human health.
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DOI: 10.3390/md22050201
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