Recent research has revealed the role of metalloproteinases in a number of severe pathological illnesses, including cardiac, cartilage, neurological, and cancer-related diseases that are fatal to humans. Metalloproteinases are a subclass of endopeptidases that comprise structurally identical enzymes known as Matrix Metalloproteinases [MMPs] that are solely involved in extracellular matrix degradation and play a significant regulatory function in tissue remodeling.
Improper regulation and expression of MMPs have been linked to several life-threatening pathological conditions in humans. Hence there is an ever-growing interest in various research communities to identify and report the Matrix Metalloproteinase Inhibitors [MMPIs]. In spite of several chemically synthesized MMPIs being available currently, several unpleasant side effects, un-successful clinical trials have made use of synthetic MMPIs as a risky strategy. Several natural product researchers have strongly recommended and reported many natural resources like plants, microorganisms, and animals as greater resources to screen for bioactives that can function as potential natural MMPIs. Marine environment is one of the vast and promising resources that harbor diverse forms of life known to synthesize biologically active compounds. These bioactive compounds from marine organisms have been reported for their unparalleled biological effects and have profound applications in cosmeceutical, nutraceutical, and pharmaceutical research. Several research groups have reported an umpteen number of medicinally unmatched compounds from marine flora and fauna, thus driving researchers to screen marine organisms for natural MMPIs. In this review, our group has reported the potential MMPIs from marine organisms.
