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Marine Drugs
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Pharmacognostic Potential of Seaweed Extracts and Metabolites
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Pharmacognostic Potential of Seaweed Extracts and Metabolites

A special issue of Marine Drugs (ISSN 1660-3397). This special issue belongs to the section "Marine-Derived Ingredients for Drugs, Cosmeceuticals and Nutraceuticals".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (30 April 2026) | Viewed by 6032

Editor

Dr. Rafael Alexandre Faria da Costa Félix

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
LAVQ—Associated Laboratory for Green Chemistry, REQUIMTE—Network of Chemistry and Technology, Faculdade de Farmácia, Universidade do Porto, 4050-313 Porto, Portugal
Interests: cascade valorization of biomass for multi-industry development; natural products
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Marine-sourced molecules have enormous potential for biotechnological innovation that has yet to be fully determined. The development and application of pharmacologically active metabolites and extracts from marine biomass, for example, provides a framework to stimulate marine bioeconomy, green jobs, and healthcare progress. In this Special Issue, we invite authors to submit works reporting on the development of bioactive extracts/compounds from seaweed (macroalgae) with therapeutic potential. We encourage the submission of papers focusing on emerging diseases and therapeutic challenges in human health (cardiovascular diseases, chronic respiratory diseases, cancer, diabetes, obesity, liver disease, mental health disorders, neurodegenerative diseases, and antimicrobial resistant bacterial and fungal infections, among others) and current veterinary and crops health difficulties. Methodological approaches to this study can be classical (extraction, fractionation, and bioactivity assays) or alternative (genome mining, molecular docking, SAR/SPR/SPAR studies, etc.). Providing descriptions of the mechanisms of action is also within the scope of this Special Issue.

Dr. Rafael Félix
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 250 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for assessment.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-anonymized peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Marine Drugs is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2900 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • pharmacognosy
  • marine natural products
  • bioactive compounds
  • human health
  • veterinary
  • agriculture
  • emerging diseases
  • antimicrobial resistance
  • extraction

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Published Papers (4 papers)

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Research

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15 pages, 1838 KB  
Article
Dictyostelium discoideum as a Platform to Assess the Cytotoxicity of Marine Algal Extracts: The Case of Glossophora kunthii
by Sheyla J. Figueroa-Valencia, Marcos Hernández, Grover Castañeta, Ian Pérez, Alejandro Ardiles, Elizabeth Figueroa-Valencia, Teresa Cano de Terrones, Francisco P. Chávez and Carlos Areche
Mar. Drugs 2025, 23(11), 442; https://doi.org/10.3390/md23110442 - 17 Nov 2025
Viewed by 1397
Abstract
The social amoeba Dictyostelium discoideum is a versatile biological model widely used in drug discovery and studying cellular stress responses. However, its application for cytotoxicity evaluation of natural products, particularly algal-derived compounds, remains underutilized. In this study, we developed a high-throughput developmental assay [...] Read more.
The social amoeba Dictyostelium discoideum is a versatile biological model widely used in drug discovery and studying cellular stress responses. However, its application for cytotoxicity evaluation of natural products, particularly algal-derived compounds, remains underutilized. In this study, we developed a high-throughput developmental assay in D. discoideum to analyze the cytotoxicity of acetone and methanol extracts from the Peruvian seaweed Glossophora kunthii. Our results showed that the acetone extract caused a transient delay in the social development of the amoeba. In contrast, the methanol extract exhibited no significant effects, even at high extract concentrations. UHPLC/Orbitrap/ESI/MS/MS analysis tentatively identified ten major compounds, including pachydictyol A and dictyotriol A diacetate. The presence of diterpenes, such as dictyotadiol and pachydictyol A, previously reported to exhibit moderate cytotoxic activity, likely explains the developmental delay observed with the acetone extract. This study highlights the utility of D. discoideum as a scalable cytotoxicity screening platform within algal pharmacognosy, facilitating the early identification of non-toxic marine natural products suitable for further biomedical and biotechnological development. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Pharmacognostic Potential of Seaweed Extracts and Metabolites)
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Review

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28 pages, 680 KB  
Review
Selected Alien Macroalgae Species from Madeira Archipelago as a Source of Sustainable Antifungal and Elicitor Agents: A Review on Their Valorization Potential and Green Extraction Approaches
by Emmanuel Nunes, Nuno Nunes and Miguel Â. A. Pinheiro de Carvalho
Mar. Drugs 2026, 24(6), 206; https://doi.org/10.3390/md24060206 - 10 Jun 2026
Viewed by 449
Abstract
Non-indigenous or alien macroalgae are increasingly recognized as ecological threats, sources of raw material, and reservoirs of bioactive compounds for industry and agriculture. This review analyses the valorization potential of this biomass, focusing on their antifungal and elicitor activities against phytopathogenic fungi, particularly [...] Read more.
Non-indigenous or alien macroalgae are increasingly recognized as ecological threats, sources of raw material, and reservoirs of bioactive compounds for industry and agriculture. This review analyses the valorization potential of this biomass, focusing on their antifungal and elicitor activities against phytopathogenic fungi, particularly Mediterranean (De Bary) Whetzel, 1945. The literature published since 2020 was retrieved from Scopus using targeted keyword combinations. Three major topics were examined: (i) invasive and beach-cast macroalgal and their ecological context, (ii) antifungal and elicitor properties of macroalgal extracts, and (iii) the use of deep eutectic solvents (DES) for the green extraction of bioactive compounds. Species such as Asparagopsis armata, Rugulopteryx okamurae, and Sargassum muticum have shown promising antifungal and elicitor effects, frequently associated with phenolic compounds and polysaccharides. Extracts from these algae can inhibit the growth of fungi or activate plant defense pathways, providing environmentally friendly alternatives to synthetic pesticides. Moreover, DES and natural DES (NADES) offer tunable, biodegradable solvents capable of efficiently extracting these bioactive molecules while reducing the environmental impact associated with conventional organic solvents. Overall, the valorization of this biomass represents a sustainable strategy that simultaneously mitigates ecological and economic impacts and contributes to the development of sustainable inputs in agriculture. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Pharmacognostic Potential of Seaweed Extracts and Metabolites)
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20 pages, 10167 KB  
Review
Smart Secondary Metabolites in Marine Environments: Exploring the Oxasqualenoid Dehydrothyrsiferol
by Francisco Cen-Pacheco, Ana R. Díaz-Marrero and José J. Fernández
Mar. Drugs 2026, 24(5), 155; https://doi.org/10.3390/md24050155 - 27 Apr 2026
Viewed by 1153
Abstract
Dehydrothyrsiferol (DT), a brominated oxasqualenoid from the red alga Laurencia viridis, represents a compelling example of this framework. This review establishes DT as a model Smart Secondary Metabolite based on the convergence of a unique molecular architecture of rigid stereogroups connected by [...] Read more.
Dehydrothyrsiferol (DT), a brominated oxasqualenoid from the red alga Laurencia viridis, represents a compelling example of this framework. This review establishes DT as a model Smart Secondary Metabolite based on the convergence of a unique molecular architecture of rigid stereogroups connected by flexible bonds; a high metabolic yield (0.42% w/w of crude extract); potent selective bioactivity against kinetoplastids and drug-resistant tumors; multi-target modulation of protein phosphatase 2A (PP2A) and cell-surface integrins; and distinctive chemotaxonomic relevance within Macaronesian communities. Its biosynthesis proceeds through stereocontrolled epoxide-opening cascades, generating an evolutionarily refined scaffold. Ecologically, DT operates as a multifunctional shield, providing antifouling protection and deterring herbivory. Pharmacologically, it acts as a selective signaling modulator, triggering integrin-mediated cell death (IMD) in resistant cancer cells and inducing mitochondrial collapse in protozoa. In vivo studies in murine models of cutaneous leishmaniasis have demonstrated an 87% reduction in lesion size, reinforcing its promise as a lead structure. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Pharmacognostic Potential of Seaweed Extracts and Metabolites)
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31 pages, 3611 KB  
Review
Smart Secondary Metabolites in Marine Environments: The Case of Elatol
by Angélica R. Soares, Nathalia Nocchi, Ana R. Díaz-Marrero, Renato C. Pereira and José J. Fernández
Mar. Drugs 2026, 24(2), 61; https://doi.org/10.3390/md24020061 - 1 Feb 2026
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 2267
Abstract
The concept of “Smart Secondary Metabolites” is introduced here to describe a privileged class of natural products defined by structural originality, biosynthetic adaptability, and broad interaction potential with biological systems. Elatol, a halogenated sesquiterpene chiefly produced by Laurencia red seaweeds and [...] Read more.
The concept of “Smart Secondary Metabolites” is introduced here to describe a privileged class of natural products defined by structural originality, biosynthetic adaptability, and broad interaction potential with biological systems. Elatol, a halogenated sesquiterpene chiefly produced by Laurencia red seaweeds and occasionally accumulated by their consumers, exemplifies this concept with remarkable clarity. Its biosynthesis unfolds from farnesyl diphosphate via γ-bisabolane cations, bromochlorination, and stereoselective cyclization to chamigrene scaffolds, generating both (+)- and (–)-enantiomers, two metabolites with clearly distinct potential ecological roles and pharmacological profiles. This review synthesizes the current state of knowledge on elatol’s distribution, biosynthetic origins, ecological relevance, and therapeutic potential. Elatol serves as a multifunctional chemical mediator, fulfilling defensive, communicative, and regulatory roles whose intensity shifts in response to herbivory, biofouling, temperature, and salinity. In parallel, its potent activities against infectious, metabolic, and neoplastic diseases highlight its growing value as a drug lead, reflected in a rising number of patent claims. Altogether, elatol emerges as a model Smart Secondary Metabolite whose ecological sophistication and biochemical versatility position it as a promising scaffold for marine-derived drug discovery. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Pharmacognostic Potential of Seaweed Extracts and Metabolites)
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