Application of marine natural products in drug research

New diseases are emerging as the environment changes, so drug manufacturers are always on the lookout for new resources to develop effective and safe drugs. In recent years, many bioactive substances have been produced in the marine environment, which represents an alternative resource for new drugs used to combat major diseases such as cancer or inflammation. Many marine-derived medicinal substances are in preclinical or early stage of clinical development, and some marine drugs have been put on the market, such as ET743 (Yondelis?). This review presents the sources, activities, mechanisms of action and syntheses of bioactive substances based on marine natural products in clinical trials and on the market, which is helpful to understand the progress of drug research by application of marine natural products.

Automated summary

With the changing environment, new diseases are emerging. The development of bioactive substances from the marine environment is providing new resources for the production of new drugs to combat major diseases such as cancer or inflammation. Currently, many marine-derived drugs are in preclinical or early stage of clinical development, and some have already been put on the market.