MARINE DRUGS

 

MARINE DRUGS

 

We Humans are bestowed with a myriad of natural sources, which can be used to produce many life saving drugs. Compounds that are obtained from a variety of Flora, Fauna and Micro Organisms constitutes the primary components of several drugs. And the branch of science that deals with these drugs is called Pharmacognosy, which is regarded as Mother of Pharmacy. It's further divided into many sub branches, one among them is Marine Pharmacognosy. 

Marine Pharmacognosy defined as the study of naturally occurring medicinal substances which are extracted from marine species like Algae, Fungi, Bacteria and sponges etc. 

 

                                                       

" The sea cures all ailments of a man" A saying by Plato sums up the importance it holds. Planet Earth constitutes 3/4th of water which is an abode to a variety of life, which helps us to study and obtain Crude Drugs which further needs to be processed to get Drugs that helps us to encounter dreadful diseases that mankind is facing. Not only drugs but also in the world of cosmetics these products made a significant impact.   

 

Ecosystem of ocean is untouched and we unexplored for several million years. Many organisms developed a Variety of defense mechanisms to withstand harsh conditions of ocean. This leads to the creation of specific chemical compounds that are required for protection from Predator and Environment. Identification, Extraction, Analysis and  Processing of this compounds into Drugs and Other Useful compounds. 

 

Many challenges in this area are overcome by thriving efforts of Ardent Marine Biologists and with the advancement of technology like SCUBA in 1940 paved way for the establishing of this futuristic science. 

The first approved the Marine Drug is Ziconotide by US FDA which led to an opening of channel for the detailed study of other marine derived compounds moving through Clinical Trials.

 

 

CLASSIFICATION OF MARINE DRUGS:

 

Class of Drugs	Drug Name	Marine Source
Anti - Neoplastics	Crassin acetate Sinularin Cytabrine Dolostatin	Caribbean gogonia Sinularia flexibilis Caribbean sponge Dolabella auriculata
Cardiovascular compounds	Laminin Eledoisin Spongosine	Laminaria argutata Eledone moschata Cryptotethia crypta
Anti-microbials	Zonarol Prepacifenol Eonicin	Clictippteris zonaridus Laurencia filformis Eunicia mammosa
Antibiotics	Acanthifolicin Cephalosporin	Pandaros acanthifolicin Cephalosporium acrimonium
Anti virals	Avarol Eudistomin-A	Dysidea avara Eudistoma olivaceum
Anti - parasitics	A-kainic acid	Digenia simplex
Anti - fungals	Thelphin	Thelepus retorus
Anti - diabetics	Eckol	Ecklonia cava
Marine toxins	Saxitoxin Palytoxin	Gonyaulase calenella Palythoa species

 

 

                        FDA APPROVED MARINE DRUGS:

 

(1) Cytarbine( Arabinoryl cytosine, ara-c):-  

   -It is derived from spongothymidine and isolated from Caribbean sponge species, Tethya crypta. 

  Use: Treatment for different types of leukemia like Lymphocytic leukemia, Myelocytic leukaemia, Meningalleukaemia. 

 

(2) Vidarbine(arabinofuranosyladenine, ara-a) :-

  -It is isolated from Carribbean sponge Tethya crypta and developed from spongouridine. 

  Use: Treatment for acute kerato - conjunctivitis, superficial keratitis, epithelial keratitis caused by Herpes simplex virus type 1 and 2.

 

(3) Zincontide :-

  -It is extracted and purified from the venom of marine snail (Conus magus) fish hunting species. 

  Use: It acts as an analgesic. 

 

(4) Trabectidin:-

  - It is derived from tunicate sps. Ecteinascidiaturbinata. 

   Use: 1st anti cancer molecule of marine origin approved by EU, used in soft tissue sarcoma and in relapsed cases of platinum sensitive ovarian cancer treatment. 

 

(5) Eribulin mesylate :-

  - Eribulin is extracted from marine sponges.

Use:It is an anticancer medication used to treat breast cancer and liposarcoma. 

 

(6) Omega 3 fatty acids:-

   - These fatty acids are extracted from fish oil. 

    Use: It is used in hypertriglyceridermia. 

 

(7) Brentuximab:-

   - It is extracted from molluscs. 

    Use: To treat relapsed Hodgkin lymphoma and anaplastic large cell lymphoma. 

 

 

                 MARINE DRUGS IN PHASE I CLINICAL TRIAL:

 

(1) Bryostatin I :-

   - Bryostatin was extracted from Bryozan B. neritina.

Use:ItisUndergoing trial to assess treatment for Alzheimers disease.

 

(2) Marizonib:-

    -It was derived from marine actinomycetes Salinisporatropica.

Use:It is undergoing phase 1 trial against solid tumor and multiple myeloma.

 

(3) Leconotide(similar to zinconotide):-

    -It is undergoing phase 1 trials and is used in treatment of cancer.

 

(4) Hemiasterlin:-

   -It was extracted from marine sponges.

    Use: It has anti mitotic and anti neoplasticproperty,so it is used to treat non small cell lung cancer.

 

(5) Vorsetuzumabmafdotin(SGN-75):-

   -It was isolated from mollusc.

    Use: It is being assesed for treatment in relapsed non-hodgkin'slymphomaand in renal cancer.

 

 

 MARINE DRUGS IN PHASE II CLINICAL TRIAL:

 

(1) Enfortumabvedotin:-

    -It was isolated from mollusk.

    Use:It is used in immunotherapy.

 

(2) Elisidepsin:-

   -It was isolated from mollusk.

    Use: It has potential anti neoplastic property.

 

(3)Zalypsis:-

  -It was extracted from sponges and tunicates.

   Use:It is in trials for treatment of solid tumor, breast cancer, prostate cancer, renal cancer.

 

(4)DMXBA

-(3-(2,4 -dimethoxybenzylidene)-anabasine):-

   -It was isolated from aquatic worms, phyumnemertea.

    Use:  Treatment for Alzheimers disease and schizophrenia as it performs memory and cognition enhancement activity.

 

(5) Tasidotin(derivative of dolastatin 15):-

    -It shows anti mitotic and anti neoplastic activities.

 

(6) pseudopterosins:-

   - It was isolated from sea whip pseudopterogorgia.

     Use: They have anti-inflammatory and analgesic (differ from NSAIDs mechanism) properties.

 

       MARINE DRUGS IN PHASE III CLINICAL TRIAL:

 

(1) Soblidotin( derivative of dolastatin-10):-

    -It was extracted from sea hare.

     Use: It inhibits tubulin polymerization resulting in cell cycle and induction of apoptosis.

 

(2) Tetrodotoxin:-

    -It is a marine toxin and extracted from puffer fish.

Use:It is an analgesic against uncontrolled cancer pain in phase-3 trials.

 

(3) Plinabulin:-

    -It was extracted from marine aspergillus species.

     Use: It is in trials to treat non small cell lung cancer.

(4) Plitidespin:-

   -It was extracted from tunicate ascidian Aplidium albicans.

    Use: It induces apoptosis in multiple myeloma cells and cell cycle arrest.

 

Oceans are the most bio-diverse in nature holding a variety renewable natural resources from which continuous extraction of drug is possible which paves way for the establishment of futuristic studies in Marine Research. By exploring the depths of marine pharmacology and developing it into a specialty in India will helps us to get acquainted with marine resources and can exploit the advantages associated with it, as our beautiful country is blessed with a vast coastline which can in turn make India a pioneer in drug development for controlling rapid growth of many diseases and can lead the world in marine drug research.

 

 

 

 

                                                                            By-    

                                                                            VANUM SAI PRIYANKA

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YADHA HARISH

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