Marine drugs

Marine drugs

The drugs which are obtained from marine organisms are know as marine drugs. these drugs are used since ancient times.

They are highly potent bioactive molecules In recent years a significant number of novel

metabolites with potent pharmacological properties have been discovered from the marine organism 

Marine drugs

Rich source of both biological and chemical diversity (The oceans are our most biodiverse environment).

Genetic diversity translates to chemical diversity = Promising new drugs

Marine toxins were reported to possess an extremely high potency with regard to their pharmacological actions.

Low toxic side effects.

Why to look for marine sources?

Sponges Coelenterates (sea whips, sea fans and soft

corals) Tunicates molluscs (nudibranchs, sea hares, etc.) Echinoderms (starfish, sea cucumbers, etc.) Bryozoans (moss animals)

Sources of marine drugs

Sponges Tunicates

bryozon mollusks

Antibacterial agentsAntiviral agentsAntifungal agentsAntibiotics Anticancer agentsAntiprotozoal agentsAnti-inflammatory agents

Classification of marine drugs

CompoundName

Source Chemicalclass

Diseasearea

Status

Ziconotide(prialt™)

cone snail 

Peptide Chronic pain

approval by the FDA on December 31st 2004 

Bryostatin-1 Bryozoan

Polyketide Cancer No current clinical trials

Dolaststin Sea slug Peptide Cancer -

E-7974 Sponge tripeptide cancer Phase-1

1st drug of marine origin approval by the FDA on December 31st 2004 A non-opioid, non-NSAID, non-local

anesthetic used for treatment of chronic pain Derived from the toxin of cone snail Conus

magus Contains synthetic form of the cone snail

peptide ω- conotoxin

Ziconotide (Prialt™)

Used for “management of severe chronic pain”

Approved for the treatment of chronic pain as a morphine replacement therapy

It is the most powerful painkiller known till date

Must be administered intrathecally Common side effects: dizziness, nausea,

confusion & headache Rare side effects: hallucinations, suicidal

thoughts, new or worsening depression, meningitis and seizures Cont.

Blocks the N-Type calcium channels on the primary nerves in the spinal cord

Mechanism of action

Ecteinascidin Didemnin BDolastin-10Halichondrin BBryostatin-1Aplidin (APL)

Various anticancer agents form marine origin

Expression of silent biosynthetic pathways

Culturing/cultivating organisms for production-Supply Issue-macro and micro-organisms

Toxicity issues

Challenges in marine drug discovery

The marine ecosystem is not only productive to discover novel entities but it is also a tool to identify new cellular targets for therapeutic intervention”

Sources for developing potent drug candidates

In cosmeticsAs nutritional supplements As molecular probes that can be supported

to increase the healthy life span of human.

Benefits of marine natural products

Molinski, T.F.; Dalisay, D.S.; Lievens, S.L.; Saludes, J.P. Drug development from marine natural products. Nat. Rev. Drug Discov. 2008, 8, 69–85.

Montaser, R.; Luesch, H. Marine natural products: A new wave of drugs? Future Med. Chem. 2011, 3, 1475–1489.

References

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