Abstract
Recent trends in functional foods and supplements have demonstrated that bioactive molecules play a major therapeutic role in human disease. Nutritionists and biomedical and food scientists are working together to discover new bioactive molecules that have increased potency and therapeutic benefits. Marine life constitutes almost 80% of the world biota with thousands of bioactive compounds and secondary metabolites derived from marine invertebrates such as tunicates, sponges, molluscs, bryozoans, sea slugs and many other marine organisms. These bioactive molecules and secondary metabolites possess antibiotic, antiparasitic, antiviral, anti-inflammatory, antifibrotic and anticancer activities. They are also inhibitors or activators of critical enzymes and transcription factors, competitors of transporters and sequestrants that modulate various physiological pathways. The current review summaries the widely available marine-based nutraceuticals and recent research carried out for the purposes of isolation, identification and characterization of marine-derived bioactive compounds with various therapeutic potentials.
Highlights
The concept of “nutraceutical” was introduced by Stephen DeFelice in 1989, by combining the terms “nutrition” and “pharmaceutical”
These bioactive compounds include certain polysaccharides, peptides, phytochemicals, vitamins, and fatty acids that are naturally present in foods, can be added to foods producing fortified or functional foods or can be formulated into dietary supplements
Kingdom (UK) the Mintel survey on Vitamins and Minerals supplements observed that 25% of all adults were convinced of the benefit of the nutraceutical products and that usage varied with age; 86%
Summary
The concept of “nutraceutical” was introduced by Stephen DeFelice in 1989, by combining the terms “nutrition” and “pharmaceutical”. The term refers to raw foods, fortified foods or dietary supplements containing biologically active molecules, known as bioactive molecules [1] that provide health benefits beyond basic nutrition [2] These bioactive compounds include certain polysaccharides, peptides, phytochemicals, vitamins, and fatty acids that are naturally present in foods, can be added to foods producing fortified or functional foods or can be formulated into dietary supplements. Organisms belonging to marine invertebrates are composed of different taxonomic groups, which can be classified into several major phyla, namely, Porifera (sponges), Cnidaria (corals, sea anemones, hydrozoans, jellyfish), Annelida (Polychaetes, marine worms), Bryozoa (moss animals or sea mats), Mollusca (oysters, abalone, clams, mussels, squid, cuttlefish, octopuses), Arthropoda (lobsters, crabs, shrimps, prawns, crayfish), and Echinodermata (sea stars, sea cucumbers, sea urchins) [5] This diverse group includes macroalgae, microalgae, bacteria, cyanobacteria, certain fish species and crustaceans that produce secondary metabolites as an adaptation to their hostile marine environment. Numerous molecules with biomedical functions are supplied by marine ecosystems and are used as pharmaceuticals
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Free) 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
