Nutraceuticals and Pharmaceuticals from Marine Fish and Invertebrates

A special issue of Marine Drugs (ISSN 1660-3397).

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (31 December 2020) | Viewed by 43114

Special Issue Editor

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

In the continuous search for sustainable natural sources of bioactive compounds for the food and pharmaceutical industries, marine organisms, comprising approximately one-half of the global biodiversity, are one of the most important and recently investigated bio-resources. Bioactive compounds isolated from marine micro and macroalgae, animals, and microorganisms are considered a safe and environmentally friendly alternative to existing synthetic nutraceuticals and pharmaceuticals. In this Special Issue of Marine Drugs, you are invited to submit recent advances in research of the bioactive compounds from marine fish and Invertebrates (both wild-caught and cultured) and their by-products, including enzymes, pigments, peptides, proteins, essential fatty acids (particularly eicosapentaenoic and docosahexaenoic acid), vitamins, and minerals, their chemistry and biological activity, as well as innovations in their production/extraction and application as nutraceuticals, therapeutic agents and pharmaceuticals. We also welcome research on the role of these components in protecting human health, standardization of these compounds through studies and trials, research on safety, purity, and dosage of the ingredients in commercial products and development of new nutraceuticals, therapeutic agents, and pharmaceuticals.

Prof. Dr. Vida Šimat
Guest Editor

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Keywords

  • Extraction method
  • Bioactive peptides
  • Biological activity
  • Food application
  • Therapeutic effect
  • Enzyme inhibitors

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Published Papers (8 papers)

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Editorial

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3 pages, 188 KiB  
Editorial
Nutraceuticals and Pharmaceuticals from Marine Fish and Invertebrates
by Vida Šimat
Mar. Drugs 2021, 19(7), 401; https://doi.org/10.3390/md19070401 - 20 Jul 2021
Cited by 6 | Viewed by 2500
Abstract
The word nutraceutical is coined from two words, “nutrition” and “pharmaceutical”, describing natural sources of molecules or substances that have physiological benefit, and the ability to protect human health and well-being and prevent chronic diseases [...] Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Nutraceuticals and Pharmaceuticals from Marine Fish and Invertebrates)

Research

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19 pages, 2908 KiB  
Article
Using Bacillus subtilis as a Host Cell to Express an Antimicrobial Peptide from the Marine Chordate Ciona intestinalis
by Bing-Chang Lee, Jui-Che Tsai, Cheng-Yung Lin, Chun-Wei Hung, Jin-Chuan Sheu and Huai-Jen Tsai
Mar. Drugs 2021, 19(2), 111; https://doi.org/10.3390/md19020111 - 12 Feb 2021
Cited by 10 | Viewed by 4015
Abstract
Ciona molecule against microbes-A24 (CiMAM) isolated from the marine chordate Ciona intestinalis is an antimicrobial peptide. To generate CiMAM-expressing transgenic Bacillus subtilis, we constructed a plasmid expressing recombinant CiMAM (rCiMAM) and introduced it into B. subtilis. Transgenic strains C117 and C166 were [...] Read more.
Ciona molecule against microbes-A24 (CiMAM) isolated from the marine chordate Ciona intestinalis is an antimicrobial peptide. To generate CiMAM-expressing transgenic Bacillus subtilis, we constructed a plasmid expressing recombinant CiMAM (rCiMAM) and introduced it into B. subtilis. Transgenic strains C117 and C166 were selected since they were able to highly and stably express rCiMAM. We studied the bactericidal activity of pepsin-digested extracts from rCiMAM-expressing strains against freshwater and euryhaline pathogens that commonly occur in aquaculture ponds and found no difference from that of lactoferricin-expressing strains. The bactericidal activity of 1-μL aliquot from a total 5.5 mL extracted from 5 mL of cultured C117 (1.45 × 108 CFU·mL−1) and C166 (2.17 × 108 CFU·mL−1) against halophilic bacteria was equivalent to the efficacy of 57.06 and 32.35 ng of Tetracycline against Vibrio natriegens, 47.07 and 25.2 ng against V. parahaemolyticus, and 58.17 and 36.55 ng against V. alginolyticus, respectively, indicating higher bactericidal activity of pepsin-extracts from rCiMAM-containing strains against halophilic bacteria compared to that from lactoferricin-containing strains. Since the antibacterial activity of rCiMAM-expressing B. subtilis strains shows higher competence against halophilic pathogens compared to that against freshwater and euryhaline pathogens, these strains are promising candidates to protect marine fish and shellfish from halophilic bacterial infection. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Nutraceuticals and Pharmaceuticals from Marine Fish and Invertebrates)
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11 pages, 3587 KiB  
Article
Ameliorating Effect of Pentadecapeptide Derived from Cyclina sinensis on Cyclophosphamide-Induced Nephrotoxicity
by Xiaoxia Jiang, Zhexin Ren, Biying Zhao, Shuyao Zhou, Xiaoguo Ying and Yunping Tang
Mar. Drugs 2020, 18(9), 462; https://doi.org/10.3390/md18090462 - 9 Sep 2020
Cited by 28 | Viewed by 3692
Abstract
Cyclophosphamide (CTX) is a widely used anticancer drug with severe nephrotoxicity. The pentadecapeptide (RVAPEEHPVEGRYLV) from Cyclina sinensis (SCSP) has been shown to affect immunity and to protect the liver. Hence, the purpose of this study was to investigate the ameliorating effect of SCSP [...] Read more.
Cyclophosphamide (CTX) is a widely used anticancer drug with severe nephrotoxicity. The pentadecapeptide (RVAPEEHPVEGRYLV) from Cyclina sinensis (SCSP) has been shown to affect immunity and to protect the liver. Hence, the purpose of this study was to investigate the ameliorating effect of SCSP on CTX-induced nephrotoxicity in mice. We injected male ICR mice with CTX (80 mg/kg·day) and measured the nephrotoxicity indices, levels of antioxidant enzymes, malondialdehyde (MDA), inflammatory factors, as well as the major proteins of the NF-κB and apoptotic pathways. Cyclophosphamide induced kidney injury; the levels of kidney-injury indicators and cytokines recovered remarkably in mice after receiving SCSP. The activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px), and catalase (CAT) increased, while there was a significant decrease in MDA levels. The kidney tissue damage induced by CTX was also repaired to a certain extent. In addition, SCSP significantly inhibited inflammatory factors and apoptosis by regulating the NF-κB and apoptotic pathways. Our study shows that SCSP has the potential to ameliorate CTX-induced nephrotoxicity and may be used as a therapeutic adjuvant to ameliorate CTX-induced nephrotoxicity. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Nutraceuticals and Pharmaceuticals from Marine Fish and Invertebrates)
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18 pages, 1724 KiB  
Article
New Cytotoxic Cerebrosides from the Red Sea Cucumber Holothuria spinifera Supported by In-Silico Studies
by Reda F. A. Abdelhameed, Enas E. Eltamany, Dina M. Hal, Amany K. Ibrahim, Asmaa M. AboulMagd, Tarfah Al-Warhi, Khayrya A. Youssif, Adel M. Abd El-kader, Hashim A. Hassanean, Shaimaa Fayez, Gerhard Bringmann, Safwat A. Ahmed and Usama Ramadan Abdelmohsen
Mar. Drugs 2020, 18(8), 405; https://doi.org/10.3390/md18080405 - 1 Aug 2020
Cited by 7 | Viewed by 4149
Abstract
Bioactivity-guided fractionation of a methanolic extract of the Red Sea cucumber Holothuria spinifera and LC-HRESIMS-assisted dereplication resulted in the isolation of four compounds, three new cerebrosides, spiniferosides A (1), B (2), and C (3), and cholesterol sulfate [...] Read more.
Bioactivity-guided fractionation of a methanolic extract of the Red Sea cucumber Holothuria spinifera and LC-HRESIMS-assisted dereplication resulted in the isolation of four compounds, three new cerebrosides, spiniferosides A (1), B (2), and C (3), and cholesterol sulfate (4). The chemical structures of the isolated compounds were established on the basis of their 1D NMR and HRMS spectral data. Metabolic profiling of the H. spinifera extract indicated the presence of diverse secondary metabolites, mostly hydroxy fatty acids, diterpenes, triterpenes, and cerebrosides. The isolated compounds were tested for their in vitro cytotoxicities against the breast adenocarcinoma MCF-7 cell line. Compounds 1, 2, 3, and 4 displayed promising cytotoxic activities against MCF-7 cells, with IC50 values of 13.83, 8.13, 8.27, and 35.56 µM, respectively, compared to that of the standard drug doxorubicin (IC50 8.64 µM). Additionally, docking studies were performed for compounds 1, 2, 3, and 4 to elucidate their binding interactions with the active site of the SET protein, an inhibitor of protein phosphatase 2A (PP2A), which could explain their cytotoxic activity. This study highlights the important role of these metabolites in the defense mechanism of the sea cucumber against fouling organisms and the potential uses of these active molecules in the design of new anticancer agents. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Nutraceuticals and Pharmaceuticals from Marine Fish and Invertebrates)
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19 pages, 3665 KiB  
Article
Antioxidant Peptides from Collagen Hydrolysate of Redlip Croaker (Pseudosciaena polyactis) Scales: Preparation, Characterization, and Cytoprotective Effects on H2O2-Damaged HepG2 Cells
by Wan-Yi Wang, Yu-Qin Zhao, Guo-Xu Zhao, Chang-Feng Chi and Bin Wang
Mar. Drugs 2020, 18(3), 156; https://doi.org/10.3390/md18030156 - 11 Mar 2020
Cited by 74 | Viewed by 5432
Abstract
Bioactive peptides from fish collagens with antioxidant properties have become a topic of great interest for health, food, and processing/preservation industries. To explore the high-value utilized way of scales produced during the fish processing, collagen hydrolysates of redlip croaker (Pseudosciaena polyactis) [...] Read more.
Bioactive peptides from fish collagens with antioxidant properties have become a topic of great interest for health, food, and processing/preservation industries. To explore the high-value utilized way of scales produced during the fish processing, collagen hydrolysates of redlip croaker (Pseudosciaena polyactis) scales were prepared using six different proteases, and the hydrolysate (RSCH) prepared using neutrase showed the highest degree of hydrolysis (21.36 ± 1.18%) and 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH·) radical scavenging activity (30.97 ± 1.56%) among the six hydrolysates. Subsequently, six antioxidant peptides were purified from RSCH using membrane ultrafiltration and serial chromatography, and their amino acid sequences were identified as DGPEGR, GPEGPMGLE, EGPFGPEG, YGPDGPTG, GFIGPTE, and IGPLGA with molecular masses of 629.61, 885.95, 788.96, 762.75, 733.80, and 526.61 Da, respectively. Among six collagen peptides, GPEGPMGLE, EGPFGPEG, and GFIGPTE exhibited the strongest scavenging activities on DPPH· radical (EC50 0.59, 0.37, and 0.45 mg/mL), hydroxyl radical (EC50 0.45, 0.33, and 0.32 mg/mL), and superoxide anion radical (EC50 0.62, 0.47, and 0.74 mg/mL). GPEGPMGLE, EGPFGPEG, and GFIGPTE showed high inhibiting ability on lipid peroxidation in a linoleic acid model system and protective activities on oxidation-damaged DNA. More importantly, GPEGPMGLE, EGPFGPEG, and GFIGPTE could protect HepG2 cells from H2O2-induced oxidative damage through decreasing the levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and MDA and activating intracellular antioxidant enzymes of superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px). These results suggested that six collagen peptides (RCP1–RCP6), especially GPEGPMGLE, EGPFGPEG, and GFIGPTE, might serve as potential antioxidants applied in nutraceutical and pharmaceutical products. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Nutraceuticals and Pharmaceuticals from Marine Fish and Invertebrates)
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Review

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29 pages, 13346 KiB  
Review
Secondary Metabolites from the Marine Sponges of the Genus Petrosia: A Literature Review of 43 Years of Research
by Yeon-Ju Lee, Yeonwoo Cho and Huynh Nguyen Khanh Tran
Mar. Drugs 2021, 19(3), 122; https://doi.org/10.3390/md19030122 - 25 Feb 2021
Cited by 24 | Viewed by 4724
Abstract
Sponges are prolific sources of various natural products that have provided the chemical scaffolds for new drugs. The sponges of the genus Petrosia inhabit various regions and contain a variety of biologically active natural products such as polyacetylenes, sterols, meroterpenoids, and alkaloids. This [...] Read more.
Sponges are prolific sources of various natural products that have provided the chemical scaffolds for new drugs. The sponges of the genus Petrosia inhabit various regions and contain a variety of biologically active natural products such as polyacetylenes, sterols, meroterpenoids, and alkaloids. This review aims to provide a comprehensive summary of the chemical structures and biological activities of Petrosia metabolites covering a period of more than four decades (between 1978 and 2020). It is also described in this review that the major groups of metabolites from members of the genus Petrosia differed with latitude. The polyacetylenes were identified to be the most predominant metabolites in Petrosia sponges in temperate regions, while tropical Petrosia species were sources of a greater variety of metabolites, such as meroterpenoids, sterols, polyacetylenes, and alkaloids. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Nutraceuticals and Pharmaceuticals from Marine Fish and Invertebrates)
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40 pages, 2226 KiB  
Review
Recent Advances in Marine-Based Nutraceuticals and Their Health Benefits
by Vida Šimat, Nariman Elabed, Piotr Kulawik, Zafer Ceylan, Ewelina Jamroz, Hatice Yazgan, Martina Čagalj, Joe M. Regenstein and Fatih Özogul
Mar. Drugs 2020, 18(12), 627; https://doi.org/10.3390/md18120627 - 9 Dec 2020
Cited by 83 | Viewed by 8656
Abstract
The oceans have been the Earth’s most valuable source of food. They have now also become a valuable and versatile source of bioactive compounds. The significance of marine organisms as a natural source of new substances that may contribute to the food sector [...] Read more.
The oceans have been the Earth’s most valuable source of food. They have now also become a valuable and versatile source of bioactive compounds. The significance of marine organisms as a natural source of new substances that may contribute to the food sector and the overall health of humans are expanding. This review is an update on the recent studies of functional seafood compounds (chitin and chitosan, pigments from algae, fish lipids and omega-3 fatty acids, essential amino acids and bioactive proteins/peptides, polysaccharides, phenolic compounds, and minerals) focusing on their potential use as nutraceuticals and health benefits. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Nutraceuticals and Pharmaceuticals from Marine Fish and Invertebrates)
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20 pages, 2261 KiB  
Review
Fish-Based Bioactives as Potent Nutraceuticals: Exploring the Therapeutic Perspective of Sustainable Food from the Sea
by Syed Amir Ashraf, Mohd Adnan, Mitesh Patel, Arif Jamal Siddiqui, Manojkumar Sachidanandan, Mejdi Snoussi and Sibte Hadi
Mar. Drugs 2020, 18(5), 265; https://doi.org/10.3390/md18050265 - 18 May 2020
Cited by 70 | Viewed by 8704
Abstract
Recent developments in nutraceuticals and functional foods have confirmed that bioactive components present in our diet play a major therapeutic role against human diseases. Moreover, there is a huge emphasis on food scientists for identifying and producing foods with better bioactive activity, which [...] Read more.
Recent developments in nutraceuticals and functional foods have confirmed that bioactive components present in our diet play a major therapeutic role against human diseases. Moreover, there is a huge emphasis on food scientists for identifying and producing foods with better bioactive activity, which can ultimately provide wellness and well-being to human health. Among the several well-known foods with bioactive constituents, fish has always been considered important, due to its rich nutritional values and by-product application in food industries. Nutritionists, food scientists, and other scientific communities have been working jointly to uncover new bioactive molecules that could increase the potential and therapeutic benefits of these bioactive components. Despite the innumerable benefits of fish and known fish bioactive molecules, its use by food or pharmaceutical industries is scarce, and even research on fish-based nutraceuticals is not promising. Therefore, this review focuses on the current information/data available regarding fish bioactive components, its application as nutraceuticals for therapeutic purposes in the treatment of chronic diseases, ethnic issues related to consumption of fish or its by-products. Especial emphasis is given on the utilization of fish wastes and its by-products to fulfill the world demand for cheap dietary supplements specifically for underdeveloped/least developed countries. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Nutraceuticals and Pharmaceuticals from Marine Fish and Invertebrates)
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