Abstract
The long-lasting interest in bioactive molecules (namely toxins) produced by (microalga) dinoflagellates has risen in recent years. Exhibiting wide diversity and complexity, said compounds are well-recognized for their biological features, with great potential for use as pharmaceutical therapies and biological research probes. Unfortunately, provision of those compounds is still far from sufficient, especially in view of an increasing demand for preclinical testing. Despite the difficulties to establish dinoflagellate cultures and obtain reasonable productivities of such compounds, intensive research has permitted a number of advances in the field. This paper accordingly reviews the characteristics of some of the most important biotoxins (and other bioactive substances) produced by dinoflagellates. It also presents and discusses (to some length) the main advances pertaining to dinoflagellate production, from bench to large scale—with an emphasis on material published since the latest review available on the subject. Such advances encompass improvements in nutrient formulation and light supply as major operational conditions; they have permitted adaptation of classical designs, and aided the development of novel configurations for dinoflagellate growth—even though shearing-related issues remain a major challenge.
Highlights
During the latest few years, demand for new biocompounds, and its derivatives with biotechnological and pharmacological potential have experienced a remarkable increase [1].This trend—to create/find innovative and competitive products through win-win approaches—has placed a considerable emphasis upon research on marine organisms, including microalgae and macroalgae [2]
This fat-soluble substance is produced by certain strains of benthic Gambierdiscus toxicus, and may arise in fish from a biotransformation of gambiertoxins as precursors [98]
Produced by Gambierdiscus toxicus dinoflagellate, gambierol is part of the group of polycyclic focused on pump mechanism) [145,146]; and it may set the basis for a promising form of anti-tumor ethers; it is believed to be one of the components involved in ciguatera fish poisoning [147]
Summary
During the latest few years, demand for new biocompounds, and its derivatives with biotechnological and pharmacological potential have experienced a remarkable increase [1]. Dinoflagellates are able to produce bioactive compounds with distinctive chemical structures, and a wide range of functional groups and toxicological and biological features; macrolides, cyclic polyethers, spirolides and purine alkaloids are but examples of such categories [18] Due to their disparate functional structures, said biocompounds form a heterogeneous group that may strongly affect a variety of biological receptors and metabolic processes [10]. Other interesting dinoflagellate-derived compounds, such as pigments (e.g., peridinin), fatty acids (e.g., PUFAs) or polysaccharides, have shown noteworthy evidence for extra health benefits as nutraceuticals, prevention of development and anti-proliferation of tumor cells, and anti-inflammatory and antiviral activities [2,19,20] Due to their biological potential—and despite several difficulties in getting the minimum amounts of biotoxins for testing, several studies and patents encompassing applications of dinoflagellates, directly associated to biotoxins, have been published or filed (Table 1). Use of sodium ion channel blocker in treating biology drug resistance of antibiotic
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