Bioactive Metabolites from Marine Algae as Potent Pharmacophores against Oxidative Stress-Associated Human Diseases: A Comprehensive Review

Abstract

In addition to cancer and diabetes, inflammatory and ROS-related diseases represent one of the major health problems worldwide. Currently, several synthetic drugs are used to reduce oxidative stress; nevertheless, these approaches often have side effects. Therefore, to overcome these issues, the search for alternative therapies has gained importance in recent times. Natural bioactive compounds have represented, and they still do, an important source of drugs with high therapeutic efficacy. In the “synthetic” era, terrestrial and aquatic photosynthetic organisms have been shown to be an essential source of natural compounds, some of which might play a leading role in pharmaceutical drug development. Marine organisms constitute nearly half of the worldwide biodiversity. In the marine environment, algae, seaweeds, and seagrasses are the first reported sources of marine natural products for discovering novel pharmacophores. The algal bioactive compounds are a potential source of novel antioxidant and anticancer (through modulation of the cell cycle, metastasis, and apoptosis) compounds. Secondary metabolites in marine Algae, such as phenolic acids, flavonoids, and tannins, could have great therapeutic implications against several diseases. In this context, this review focuses on the diversity of functional compounds extracted from algae and their potential beneficial effects in fighting cancer, diabetes, and inflammatory diseases.

Efficacy of Natural Deep Eutectic Solvents for Extraction of Hydrophilic and Lipophilic Compounds from Fucus vesiculosus

“…The antioxidant effects of seaweed extracts have been confirmed both in vitro and in vivo [36,[41][42][43]. Epidemiological observations provide evidence that dietary supplementation with seaweeds reduces the risk of numerous diseases associated with oxidative stress [44][45][46]. Therefore, we consider using the antioxidant test as an indicator for the biological activity of novel extracts from F. vesiculosus obtained by the application of NADES.…”

Biochemical Profiling for Antioxidant and Therapeutic Potential of Pakistani Chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) Genetic Resource

“…According to a WHO report, the global population of people with diabetes will increase from 592 to 2035 billion in the near future. Along with diabetes and cancer, inflammatory diseases have increased tremendously, causing millions of deaths throughout the world in recent years (Pradhan et al, 2021a). Unfortunately, several adverse effects, such as toxicity, metabolic impairments, and drug tolerance are strongly associated with chemotherapeutic, anti-inflammatory, and anti-diabetic drugs (Pradhan et al, 2021b).…”

Preliminary Investigation of the Antioxidant, Anti-Diabetic, and Anti-Inflammatory Activity of Enteromorpha intestinalis Extracts

“…Recently, phytochemicals have attained great attention for the screening and development of novel therapeutic pharmacophores [21]. Algae-based bioactive compounds, such as alkaloids, carbohydrates, proteins, glycosides, flavonoids, phenols, saponins, tannins, coumarins, and terpenoids, have shown promising in vitro results and could be extensively used as therapeutic agents against several diseases [17]. The present investigation was designed to understand the in vitro antioxidant potency of different solvent extracts of Enteromorpha intestinalis, a marine alga typical from Chilika lagoon, in India, with particular attention to their antidiabetic and anti-inflammatory activity.…”

“…Commercially available antidiabetic drugs exert several adverse side effects, pushing the research for novel natural drugs. Marine algal bioactive compounds were able to inhibit α-amylase, α-glucosidase, dipeptidyl peptidase-4, aldose reductase, and protein tyrosine phosphatase 1B (PTP 1B) enzymes, which play a key role in the digestion of carbohydrate, thus leading to delayed glucose absorption in blood and plasma [17]. Marine algal compounds were also able to modulate GLUT-4 and AMPK signaling pathways and trigger glucose tolerance.…”

“…Marine algal compounds were also able to modulate GLUT-4 and AMPK signaling pathways and trigger glucose tolerance. The α-amylase inhibition delays the assimilation process by hindering the breakdown of starch and can be used as a target for treatment against hyperglycemic disorder [17].…”