Laboratory of Photosynthesis and Bioenergy, Department of Biotechnology, University of Verona, Strada le Grazie 15, 37134 Verona, Italy.
Laboratory of Experimental Rheumatology and Academic, Division of Clinical Rheumatology, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Genoa, 16132 Genoa, Italy.
Mar Drugs. 2024 Jun 28;22(7):304. doi: 10.3390/md22070304.
From sea shores to the abysses of the deep ocean, marine ecosystems have provided humanity with valuable medicinal resources. The use of marine organisms is discussed in ancient pharmacopoeias of different times and geographic regions and is still deeply rooted in traditional medicine. Thanks to present-day, large-scale bioprospecting and rigorous screening for bioactive metabolites, the ocean is coming back as an untapped resource of natural compounds with therapeutic potential. This renewed interest in marine drugs is propelled by a burgeoning research field investigating the molecular mechanisms by which newly identified compounds intervene in the pathophysiology of human diseases. Of great clinical relevance are molecules endowed with anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory properties with emerging applications in the management of chronic inflammatory disorders, autoimmune diseases, and cancer. Here, we review the historical development of marine pharmacology in the Eastern and Western worlds and describe the status of marine drug discovery. Finally, we discuss the importance of conducting sustainable exploitation of marine resources through biotechnology.
从海滨到深海深渊，海洋生态系统为人类提供了宝贵的药用资源。海洋生物的利用在不同时代和地理区域的古代药典中都有讨论，并且仍然深深地植根于传统医学中。由于现代大规模的生物勘探和对生物活性代谢物的严格筛选，海洋作为具有治疗潜力的天然化合物的未开发资源正在回归。这种对海洋药物的新兴趣是由一个蓬勃发展的研究领域推动的，该领域研究新鉴定的化合物干预人类疾病病理生理学的分子机制。具有抗炎和免疫调节特性的分子具有重要的临床相关性，它们在慢性炎症性疾病、自身免疫性疾病和癌症的治疗中有着新兴的应用。在这里，我们回顾了东西方海洋药理学的历史发展，并描述了海洋药物发现的现状。最后，我们讨论了通过生物技术进行可持续开发海洋资源的重要性。
