Drugs from the sea--fact or fantasy?

Cardiovascular Active Peptides of Marine Origin with ACE Inhibitory Activities: Potential Role as Anti-Hypertensive Drugs and in Prevention of SARS-CoV-2 Infection

Growing interest in hypertension-one of the main factors characterizing the cardiometabolic syndrome (CMS)-and anti-hypertensive drugs raised from the emergence of a new coronavirus, SARS-CoV-2, responsible for the COVID19 pandemic. The virus SARS-CoV-2 employs the Angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2), a component of the RAAS (Renin-Angiotensin-Aldosterone System) system, as a receptor for entry into the cells. Several classes of synthetic drugs are available for hypertension, rarely associated with severe or mild adverse effects. New natural compounds, such as peptides, might be useful to treat some hypertensive patients. The main feature of ACE inhibitory peptides is the location of the hydrophobic residue, usually Proline, at the C-terminus. Some already known bioactive peptides derived from marine resources have potential ACE inhibitory activity and can be considered therapeutic agents to treat hypertension. Peptides isolated from marine vertebrates, invertebrates, seaweeds, or sea microorganisms displayed important biological activities to treat hypertensive patients. Here, we reviewed the anti-hypertensive activities of bioactive molecules isolated/extracted from marine organisms and discussed the associated molecular mechanisms involved. We also examined ACE2 modulation in sight of SARS2-Cov infection prevention.

Therapeutic drugs: healing power of marine fish

Marine fish is a major source of high-quality protein, lipids, and a wide variety of vitamins and minerals. These macromolecules and their derivatives show different pharmacological activities, which make the fish as a therapeutic diet. Modern technology has made it easy to explore the therapeutic importance of fish-based diet on cardiovascular diseases, neurodegenerative diseases, radicals-mediated diseases, and cancer. In this review, we focus on exploration of proteins, lipids, carbohydrates, minerals, and their derivatives from marine fish as a major source for bioactive compounds and their medicinal importance.

Marine products as a source of antiviral drug leads

A survey is presented of the occurrence of organic compounds from aquatic organisms that have been reported to have antiviral activities. Studies of the chemical structures and antiviral properties of unusual metabolic products of aquatic life have demonstrated that marine organisms offer excellent prospects in the search for antiviral drugs.

Drugs from the Sea: A Bibliography

In case any of you are expecting a tale of mystery and intrigue on the high seas—complete with ships in hidden coves—I'm afraid I must disappoint you. My Drugs from the Sea story is not so dramatic, although it has its excitement (since the potential is always there for discovering a miracle drug from life in the sea).

Methylaplysinopsin: a natural product of marine origin with effects on serotonergic neurotransmission

1. Methylaplysinopsin is an indolyl-methylene derivative of creatinin which was isolated from a sponge collected on the Great Barrier Reef. 2. It is a potent inhibitor of tetrabenazine-induced responses in rats and mice and appears to act through several mechanisms, each of which enhances central serotonergic function. 3. As a reversible inhibitor of type A monoamine oxidase (MAO) methylaplysinopsin is relatively short-acting and has a Ki of 0.2 mumol/l when serotonin is the substrate used. 4. Methylaplysinopsin (10(-4) mol/l) also releases [3H]-serotonin from prelabelled synaptosomes, but has little effect on release of [3H]-noradrenaline ([3H]-NA) from a similar preparation. 5. In blocking uptake of [3H]-serotonin into cerebral cortical synaptosomes, methylaplysinopsin has a potency similar to that of imipramine (Ki = 2 X 10(-7) mol/l cf. 5 X 10(-7) mol/l), but it is considerably less potent in blocking [3H]-NA uptake. 6. Methylaplysinopsin is a weak displacer of [3H]-serotonin specific binding (IC50 = 160 mumol/l for hippocampal membrane preparations and 66 mumol/l for crude homogenates of rat brain). 7. Thus, methylaplysinopsin has effects on various aspects of serotonergic function. Whilst some of these effects are weak, they appear relatively selective for this neurochemical system.

Natural Products Chemistry in the Marine Environment

Significant differences and numerous similarities exist in the biosynthetic activities of marine and terrestrial plants and animals. While the more primitive marine biota are recognized to possess the common biosynthetic pathways to produce terpenes, acetogenins, aromatic compounds, and alkaloids, in many cases these pathways have been modified in unusual ways. The halogens in sebwater, for example, appear to be fundamentally involved in terpene biosynthesis and in the production of bromine-containinq acetogenins and phenolic compoupds. Marine metabolites have high physiological activities, and these molecules are conceived to function, in part at least, as defensive adaptations In the marine environment.