Journal Description
Marine Drugs
Marine Drugs
is the leading, peer-reviewed, open access journal on the research, development, and production of biologically and therapeutically active compounds from the sea. Marine Drugs is published monthly online by MDPI. Australia New Zealand Marine Biotechnology Society (ANZMBS) is affiliated with Marine Drugs and its members receive a discount on article processing charges.
- Open Access— free for readers, with article processing charges (APC) paid by authors or their institutions.
- High Visibility: indexed within Scopus, SCIE (Web of Science), PubMed, MEDLINE, PMC, Embase, PubAg, MarinLit, AGRIS, and other databases.
- Journal Rank: JCR - Q1 (Pharmacology & Pharmacy) / CiteScore - Q1 (Pharmacology, Toxicology and Pharmaceutics (miscellaneous))
- Rapid Publication: manuscripts are peer-reviewed and a first decision is provided to authors approximately 14 days after submission; acceptance to publication is undertaken in 1.9 days (median values for papers published in this journal in the second half of 2023).
- Recognition of Reviewers: reviewers who provide timely, thorough peer-review reports receive vouchers entitling them to a discount on the APC of their next publication in any MDPI journal, in appreciation of the work done.
Impact Factor:
5.4 (2022);
5-Year Impact Factor:
5.5 (2022)
Latest Articles
Marine Cytotoxin Santacruzamate A Derivatives as Potent HDAC1-3 Inhibitors and Their Synergistic Anti-Leukemia Effects with Venetoclax
Mar. Drugs 2024, 22(6), 250; https://doi.org/10.3390/md22060250 (registering DOI) - 28 May 2024
Abstract
Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is a hematologic malignancy characterized by infiltration of the blood and bone marrow, exhibiting a low remission rate and high recurrence rate. Current research has demonstrated that class I HDAC inhibitors can downregulate anti-apoptotic proteins, leading to apoptosis of
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Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is a hematologic malignancy characterized by infiltration of the blood and bone marrow, exhibiting a low remission rate and high recurrence rate. Current research has demonstrated that class I HDAC inhibitors can downregulate anti-apoptotic proteins, leading to apoptosis of AML cells. In the present investigation, we conducted structural modifications of marine cytotoxin Santacruzamate A (SCA), a compound known for its inhibitory activity towards HDACs, resulting in the development of a novel series of potent class I HDACs hydrazide inhibitors. Representative hydrazide-based compound 25c exhibited concentration-dependent induction of apoptosis in AML cells as a single agent. Moreover, 25c exhibited a synergistic anti-AML effect when combined with Venetoclax, a clinical Bcl-2 inhibitor employed in AML therapy. This combination resulted in a more pronounced downregulation of anti-apoptotic proteins Mcl-1 and Bcl-xL, along with a significant upregulation of the pro-apoptotic protein cleaved-caspase3 and the DNA double-strand break biomarker γ-H2AX compared to monotherapy. These results highlighted the potential of 25c as a promising lead compound for AML treatment, particularly when used in combination with Venetoclax.
Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Synthesis and Discovery of Marine Antitumor Molecules)
Open AccessArticle
Pinctada martensii Hydrolysate Modulates the Brain Neuropeptidome and Proteome in Diabetic (db/db) Mice via the Gut–Brain Axis
by
Jiayun Li, Yijun Lv, Yuanqing Wei, Xinzhi Wang, Shenghan Yan, Binyuan Zhao, Jipeng Sun, Rui Liu and Yueyang Lai
Mar. Drugs 2024, 22(6), 249; https://doi.org/10.3390/md22060249 - 28 May 2024
Abstract
Pinctada martensii hydrolysate (PMH) has been proved to have the effect of ameliorating disorders of glucose and lipid metabolism in db/db mice, but the mechanism of its hyperglycemia effect is still unclear. Bacterial communities in fecal samples from a normal control group, a
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Pinctada martensii hydrolysate (PMH) has been proved to have the effect of ameliorating disorders of glucose and lipid metabolism in db/db mice, but the mechanism of its hyperglycemia effect is still unclear. Bacterial communities in fecal samples from a normal control group, a diabetic control group, and a PMH-treated diabetes mellitus type 2 (T2DM) group were analyzed by 16S gene sequencing. Nano LC-MS/MS was used to analyze mice neuropeptides and proteomes. The 16S rDNA sequencing results showed that PMH modulated the structure and composition of the gut microbiota and improved the structure and composition of Firmicutes and Bacteroidetes at the phylum level and Desulfovibrionaceae and Erysipelatoclostridiaceae at the family level. Furthermore, the expressions of functional proteins of the central nervous system, immune response-related protein, and proteins related to fatty acid oxidation in the brain disrupted by an abnormal diet were recovered by PMH. PMH regulates the brain neuropeptidome and proteome and further regulates blood glucose in diabetic mice through the gut–brain axis. PMH may be used as a prebiotic agent to attenuate T2DM, and target-specific microbial species may have unique therapeutic promise for metabolic diseases.
Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Marine Natural Products in Anti-obesity and Metabolic Syndrome)
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Open AccessArticle
Evaluation of the Biological Activities of Peptides from Epidermal Mucus of Marine Fish Species from Chilean Aquaculture
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Claudio A. Álvarez, Teresa Toro-Araneda, Juan Pablo Cumillaf, Belinda Vega, María José Tapia, Tanya Roman, Constanza Cárdenas, Valentina Córdova-Alarcón, Carlos Jara-Gutiérrez, Paula A. Santana and Fanny Guzmán
Mar. Drugs 2024, 22(6), 248; https://doi.org/10.3390/md22060248 - 28 May 2024
Abstract
The skin of fish is a physicochemical barrier that is characterized by being formed by cells that secrete molecules responsible for the first defense against pathogenic organisms. In this study, the biological activity of peptides from mucus of Seriola lalandi and Seriolella violacea
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The skin of fish is a physicochemical barrier that is characterized by being formed by cells that secrete molecules responsible for the first defense against pathogenic organisms. In this study, the biological activity of peptides from mucus of Seriola lalandi and Seriolella violacea were identified and characterized. To this purpose, peptide extraction was carried out from epidermal mucus samples of juveniles of both species, using chromatographic strategies for purification. Then, the peptide extracts were characterized to obtain the amino acid sequence by mass spectrometry. Using bioinformatics tools for predicting antimicrobial and antioxidant activity, 12 peptides were selected that were chemically produced by simultaneous synthesis using the Fmoc-Tbu strategy. The results revealed that the synthetic peptides presented a random coil or extended secondary structure. The analysis of antimicrobial activity allowed it to be discriminated that four peptides, named by their synthesis code 5065, 5069, 5070, and 5076, had the ability to inhibit the growth of Vibrio anguillarum and affected the copepodite stage of C. rogercresseyi. On the other hand, peptides 5066, 5067, 5070, and 5077 had the highest antioxidant capacity. Finally, peptides 5067, 5069, 5070, and 5076 were the most effective for inducing respiratory burst in fish leukocytes. The analysis of association between composition and biological function revealed that the antimicrobial activity depended on the presence of basic and aromatic amino acids, while the presence of cysteine residues increased the antioxidant activity of the peptides. Additionally, it was observed that those peptides that presented the highest antimicrobial capacity were those that also stimulated respiratory burst in leukocytes. This is the first work that demonstrates the presence of functional peptides in the epidermal mucus of Chilean marine fish, which provide different biological properties when the fish face opportunistic pathogens.
Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Marine Bioactive Peptides—Structure, Function, and Application 2.0)
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Open AccessArticle
Antiviral Potential of Fucoxanthin, an Edible Carotenoid Purified from Sargassum siliquastrum, against Zika Virus
by
Nalae Kang, Eun-A Kim, Areumi Park, Seong-Yeong Heo, Jun-Ho Heo and Soo-Jin Heo
Mar. Drugs 2024, 22(6), 247; https://doi.org/10.3390/md22060247 - 28 May 2024
Abstract
Considering the lack of antiviral drugs worldwide, we investigated the antiviral potential of fucoxanthin, an edible carotenoid purified from Sargassum siliquastrum, against zika virus (ZIKV) infection. The antiviral activity of fucoxanthin was assessed in ZIKV-infected Vero E6 cells, and the relevant structural
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Considering the lack of antiviral drugs worldwide, we investigated the antiviral potential of fucoxanthin, an edible carotenoid purified from Sargassum siliquastrum, against zika virus (ZIKV) infection. The antiviral activity of fucoxanthin was assessed in ZIKV-infected Vero E6 cells, and the relevant structural characteristics were confirmed using molecular docking and molecular dynamics (MD) simulation. Fucoxanthin decreased the infectious viral particles and nonstructural protein (NS)1 mRNA expression levels at concentrations of 12.5, 25, and 50 µM in ZIKV-infected cells. Fucoxanthin also decreased the increased mRNA levels of interferon-induced proteins with tetratricopeptide repeat 1 and 2 in ZIKV-infected cells. Molecular docking simulations revealed that fucoxanthin binds to three main ZIKV proteins, including the envelope protein, NS3, and RNA-dependent RNA polymerase (RdRp), with binding energies of −151.449, −303.478, and −290.919 kcal/mol, respectively. The complex of fucoxanthin with RdRp was more stable than RdRp protein alone based on MD simulation. Further, fucoxanthin bonded to the three proteins via repeated formation and disappearance of hydrogen bonds. Overall, fucoxanthin exerts antiviral potential against ZIKV by affecting its three main proteins in a concentration-dependent manner. Thus, fucoxanthin isolated from S. siliquastrum is a potential candidate for treating zika virus infections.
Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Antiviral Effects and Molecular Mechanisms of Marine Compounds)
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Open AccessArticle
Optimizing Phycocyanin Extraction from Cyanobacterial Biomass: A Comparative Study of Freeze–Thaw Cycling with Various Solvents
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Konstantinos Pispas, Georgios Manthos, Eirini Sventzouri, Maria Geroulia, Savvas Giannis Mastropetros, Sameh Samir Ali and Michael Kornaros
Mar. Drugs 2024, 22(6), 246; https://doi.org/10.3390/md22060246 - 28 May 2024
Abstract
Cyanobacterial phycocyanin pigment is widely utilized for its properties in various industries, including food, cosmetics, and pharmaceuticals. Despite its potential, challenges exist, such as extraction methods impacting yield, stability, and purity. This study investigates the impact of the number of freeze–thaw (FT) cycles
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Cyanobacterial phycocyanin pigment is widely utilized for its properties in various industries, including food, cosmetics, and pharmaceuticals. Despite its potential, challenges exist, such as extraction methods impacting yield, stability, and purity. This study investigates the impact of the number of freeze–thaw (FT) cycles on the extraction of phycocyanin from the wet biomass of four cyanobacteria species (Arthrospira platensis, Chlorogloeopsis fritschii, Phormidium sp., and Synechocystis sp.), along with the impact of five extraction solutions (Tris-HCl buffer, phosphate buffer, CaCl2, deionized water, and tap water) at various pH values. Synechocystis sp. exhibited the highest phycocyanin content among the studied species. For A. platensis, Tris-HCl buffer yielded maximum phycocyanin concentration from the first FT cycle, while phosphate buffer provided satisfactory results from the second cycle. Similarly, Tris-HCl buffer showed promising results for C. fritschii (68.5% of the maximum from the first cycle), with the highest concentration (~12% w/w) achieved during the seventh cycle, using phosphate buffer. Phormidium sp. yielded the maximum pigment concentration from the first cycle using tap water. Among species-specific optimal extraction solutions, Tris-HCl buffer demonstrated sufficient extraction efficacy for all species, from the first cycle. This study represents an initial step toward establishing a universal extraction method for phycocyanin from diverse cyanobacteria species.
Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Recent Advances in Marine-Derived Pigments)
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Open AccessArticle
Development and Validation of a Liquid Chromatography–Tandem Mass Spectrometry Method for Screening Potential Citrate Lyase Inhibitors from a Library of Marine Compounds
by
Jiahong Wang, Huashi Guan and Zhe Xu
Mar. Drugs 2024, 22(6), 245; https://doi.org/10.3390/md22060245 - 27 May 2024
Abstract
Tuberculosis, a persistent illness caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis, remains a significant global public health challenge. The widespread use of anti-tuberculosis drugs has resulted in the emergence of drug-resistant strains, which complicates treatment efforts. Addressing this issue is crucial and hinges on the
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Tuberculosis, a persistent illness caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis, remains a significant global public health challenge. The widespread use of anti-tuberculosis drugs has resulted in the emergence of drug-resistant strains, which complicates treatment efforts. Addressing this issue is crucial and hinges on the development of new drugs that can effectively target the disease. This involves identifying novel therapeutic targets that can disrupt the bacterium’s survival mechanisms in various environments such as granulomas and lesions. Citrate lyase, essential for the survival of Mycobacterium species at lesion sites and in granulomatous conditions, is a potential target for the treatment of tuberculosis. This manuscript aimed to construct an efficient enzyme inhibitor screening platform using ultra-high performance liquid chromatography-quadrupole-time-of-flight mass spectrometry (UHPLC-QTOF MS). This system can accurately identify compounds with enzyme inhibitory activity from a library of marine terpenoids and phenolic compounds. Utilizing the screened herbal enzyme inhibitors as a starting point, we analyzed their chemical structures and skillfully built a library of marine compounds based on these structures. The results showed that all of the tested compounds from the phenolics library inhibited citrate lyase by more than 50%, and a significant portion of terpenoids also demonstrated inhibition, with these active terpenoids comprising over half of the terpenoids tested. The study underscores the potential of marine-derived phenolic and terpenoid compounds as potent inhibitors of citrate lyase, indicating a promising direction for future investigations in treating tuberculosis and associated disorders.
Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Marine-Derived Terpenes: Chemistry, Synthesis and Their Therapeutic Potential)
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Open AccessArticle
The Identification of Peptide Inhibitors of the Coronavirus 3CL Protease from a Fucus ceranoides L. Hydroalcoholic Extract Using a Ligand-Fishing Strategy
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Luiz Antonio Miranda de Souza Duarte Filho, Cintia Emi Yanaguibashi Leal, Pierre-Edouard Bodet, Edilson Beserra de Alencar Filho, Jackson Roberto Guedes da Silva Almeida, Manon Porta Zapata, Oussama Achour, Hugo Groult, Carlos Arthur Gouveia Veloso, Claudio Viegas Júnior, Nathalie Bourgougnon and Laurent Picot
Mar. Drugs 2024, 22(6), 244; https://doi.org/10.3390/md22060244 - 27 May 2024
Abstract
Brown seaweeds of the Fucus genus represent a rich source of natural antiviral products. In this study, a Fucus ceranoides hydroalcoholic extract (FCHE) was found to inhibit 74.2 ± 1.3% of the proteolytic activity of the free SARS-CoV-2 3CL protease (3CLpro), an enzyme
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Brown seaweeds of the Fucus genus represent a rich source of natural antiviral products. In this study, a Fucus ceranoides hydroalcoholic extract (FCHE) was found to inhibit 74.2 ± 1.3% of the proteolytic activity of the free SARS-CoV-2 3CL protease (3CLpro), an enzyme that plays a pivotal role in polyprotein processing during coronavirus replication and has been identified as a relevant drug discovery target for SARS- and MERS-CoVs infections. To purify and identify 3CLpro ligands with potential inhibitory activity using a one-step approach, we immobilized the enzyme onto magnetic microbeads (3CLpro-MPs), checked that the enzymatic activity was maintained after grafting, and used this bait for a ligand-fishing strategy followed by a high-resolution mass spectrometry analysis of the fished-out molecules. Proof of concept for the ligand-fishing capacity of the 3CLpro-MPs was demonstrated by doping the FCHE extract with the substrate peptide TSAVLQ-pNA, resulting in the preferential capture of this high-affinity peptide within the macroalgal complex matrix. Ligand fishing in the FCHE alone led to the purification and identification via high-resolution mass spectrometry (HRMS) of seven hepta-, octa-, and decapeptides in an eluate mix that significantly inhibited the free 3CLpro more than the starting FCHE (82.7 ± 2.2% inhibition). Molecular docking simulations of the interaction between each of the seven peptides and the 3CLpro demonstrated a high affinity for the enzyme’s proteolytic active site surpassing that of the most affine peptide ligand identified so far (a co-crystallographic peptide). Testing of the corresponding synthetic peptides demonstrated that four out of seven significantly inhibited the free 3CLpro (from 46.9 ± 6.4 to 76.8 ± 3.6% inhibition at 10 µM). This study is the first report identifying peptides from Fucus ceranoides with high inhibitory activity against the SARS-CoV-2 3CLprotease which bind with high affinity to the protease’s active site. It also confirms the effectiveness of the ligand-fishing strategy for the single-step purification of enzyme inhibitors from complex seaweed matrices.
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(This article belongs to the Section Marine Pharmacology)
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Open AccessArticle
Miniaturized Cultivation Profiling (MATRIX)-Facilitated Discovery of Noonazines A–C and Noonaphilone A from an Australian Marine-Derived Fungus, Aspergillus noonimiae CMB-M0339
by
Sarani Kankanamge, Paul V. Bernhardt, Zeinab G. Khalil and Robert J. Capon
Mar. Drugs 2024, 22(6), 243; https://doi.org/10.3390/md22060243 - 27 May 2024
Abstract
Subjecting the Australian marine-derived fungus Aspergillus noonimiae CMB-M0339 to cultivation profiling using an innovative miniaturized 24-well plate format (MATRIX) enabled access to new examples of the rare class of 2,6-diketopiperazines, noonazines A–C (1–3), along with the known analogue coelomycin
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Subjecting the Australian marine-derived fungus Aspergillus noonimiae CMB-M0339 to cultivation profiling using an innovative miniaturized 24-well plate format (MATRIX) enabled access to new examples of the rare class of 2,6-diketopiperazines, noonazines A–C (1–3), along with the known analogue coelomycin (4), as well as a new azaphilone, noonaphilone A (5). Structures were assigned to 1–5 on the basis of a detailed spectroscopic analysis, and in the case of 1–2, an X-ray crystallographic analysis. Plausible biosynthetic pathways are proposed for 1–4, involving oxidative Schiff base coupling/dimerization of a putative Phe precursor. Of note, 2 incorporates a rare meta-Tyr motif, typically only reported in a limited array of Streptomyces metabolites. Similarly, a plausible biosynthetic pathway is proposed for 5, highlighting a single point for stereo-divergence that allows for the biosynthesis of alternate antipodes, for example, the 7R noonaphilone A (5) versus the 7S deflectin 1a (6).
Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue MS- or NMR-Guided Discovery of Marine Specialized Metabolites)
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Open AccessArticle
New Naphthalene Derivatives from the Mangrove Endophytic Fungus Daldinia eschscholzii MCZ-18
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Zhiyong Xu, Ting Feng, Zhenchang Wen, Qing Li, Biting Chen, Pinghuai Liu and Jing Xu
Mar. Drugs 2024, 22(6), 242; https://doi.org/10.3390/md22060242 - 27 May 2024
Abstract
Five new naphthalene derivatives dalesconosides A–D, F (1–4, 6), a known synthetic analogue named dalesconoside E (5), and eighteen known compounds (7–24) were isolated from Daldinia eschscholzii MCZ-18, which is an endophytic
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Five new naphthalene derivatives dalesconosides A–D, F (1–4, 6), a known synthetic analogue named dalesconoside E (5), and eighteen known compounds (7–24) were isolated from Daldinia eschscholzii MCZ-18, which is an endophytic fungus obtained from the Chinese mangrove plant Ceriops tagal. Differing from previously reported naphthalenes, compounds 1 and 2 were bearing a rare ribofuranoside substituted at C-1 and the 5-methyltetrahydrofuran-2,3-diol moiety, respectively. Their structures were determined by detailed nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) and mass spectroscopic (MS) analyses, while the absolute configurations were established by theoretical electronic circular dichroism (ECD) calculation. Compounds 1, 3, 13–17 and 19 showed broad ranges of antimicrobial spectrum against five indicator test microorganisms (Enterococcus faecalis, Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Candida albicans); especially, 1, 16 and 17 were most potent. The variations in structure and attendant biological activities provided fresh insights concerning structure−activity relationships for the naphthalene derivatives.
Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Bio-Active Products from Mangrove Ecosystems 2.0)
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Open AccessArticle
Proangiogenic Azaphilones from the Marine-Derived Fungus Neopestalotiopsis sp. HN-1-6
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Ting Feng, Rongxiang Wu, Yufei Wang, Pei Wang, Liman Zhou, Cong Wang and Fandong Kong
Mar. Drugs 2024, 22(6), 241; https://doi.org/10.3390/md22060241 - 26 May 2024
Abstract
Developing novel, safe, and efficient proangiogenic drugs is an important approach for the prevention and treatment of cardiovascular diseases. In this study, 4 new compounds, including 3 azaphilones (1–3) and 1 dihydroisocoumarin (4), as well as 13
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Developing novel, safe, and efficient proangiogenic drugs is an important approach for the prevention and treatment of cardiovascular diseases. In this study, 4 new compounds, including 3 azaphilones (1–3) and 1 dihydroisocoumarin (4), as well as 13 known compounds (5–17), were isolated from the sea-mud-derived fungus Neopestalotiopsis sp. HN-1-6 from the Beibu Gulf of China. The structures of the new compounds were determined by NMR, MS, ECD, and NMR calculations. Compounds 3, 5, and 7 exhibited noteworthy proangiogenic activities in a zebrafish model at a concentration of 40 μM, without displaying cytotoxicity toward five human cell lines. In addition, some compounds demonstrated antibacterial effects against Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, and Candida albicans, with MIC values ranging from 64 μg/mL to 256 μg/mL.
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(This article belongs to the Section Structural Studies on Marine Natural Products)
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Open AccessArticle
Investigation into the Phytochemical Composition, Antioxidant Properties, and In-Vitro Anti-Diabetic Efficacy of Ulva lactuca Extracts
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Safae Ouahabi, Nour Elhouda Daoudi, El Hassania Loukili, Hbika Asmae, Mohammed Merzouki, Mohamed Bnouham, Allal Challioui, Belkheir Hammouti, Marie-Laure Fauconnier, Larbi Rhazi, Alicia Ayerdi Gotor, Flore Depeint and Mohammed Ramdani
Mar. Drugs 2024, 22(6), 240; https://doi.org/10.3390/md22060240 - 25 May 2024
Abstract
In this research, the chemical compositions of various extracts obtained from Ulva lactuca, a type of green seaweed collected from the Nador lagoon in the northern region of Morocco, were compared. Their antioxidant and anti-diabetic properties were also studied. Using GC–MS technology,
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In this research, the chemical compositions of various extracts obtained from Ulva lactuca, a type of green seaweed collected from the Nador lagoon in the northern region of Morocco, were compared. Their antioxidant and anti-diabetic properties were also studied. Using GC–MS technology, the fatty acid content of the samples was analyzed, revealing that palmitic acid, eicosenoic acid, and linoleic acid were the most abundant unsaturated fatty acids present in all samples. The HPLC analysis indicated that sinapic acid, naringin, rutin, quercetin, cinnamic acid, salicylic acid, apigenin, flavone, and flavanone were the most prevalent phenolic compounds. The aqueous extract obtained by maceration showed high levels of polyphenols and flavonoids, with values of 379.67 ± 0.09 mg GAE/g and 212.11 ± 0.11 mg QE/g, respectively. This extract also exhibited an impressive ability to scavenge DPPH radicals, as indicated by its IC50 value of 0.095 ± 0.12 mg/mL. Additionally, the methanolic extract obtained using the Soxhlet method demonstrated antioxidant properties by preventing β-carotene discoloration, with an IC50 of 0.087 ± 0.14 mg/mL. Results from in-vitro studies showed that extracts from U. lactuca were able to significantly inhibit the enzymatic activity of α-amylase and α-glucosidase. Among the various extracts, methanolic extract (S) has been identified as the most potent inhibitor, exhibiting a statistically similar effect to that of acarbose. Furthermore, molecular docking models were used to evaluate the interaction between the primary phytochemicals found in these extracts and the human pancreatic α-amylase and α-glucosidase enzymes. These findings suggest that U. lactuca extracts contain bioactive substances that are capable of reducing enzyme activity more effectively than the commercially available drug, acarbose.
Full article
(This article belongs to the Section Marine-Derived Ingredients for Drugs, Cosmeceuticals and Nutraceuticals)
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Occurrence and Exposure Assessment of Lipophilic Shellfish Toxins in the Zhejiang Province, China
by
Qin Weng, Ronghua Zhang, Pinggu Wu, Jiang Chen, Xiaodong Pan, Chenyang Zheng, Dong Zhao, Jikai Wang, Hexiang Zhang, Xiaojuan Qi, Junde Han, Zijie Lu and Biao Zhou
Mar. Drugs 2024, 22(6), 239; https://doi.org/10.3390/md22060239 - 24 May 2024
Abstract
Although lipophilic shellfish toxins (LSTs) pose a significant threat to the health of seafood consumers, their systematic investigation and risk assessment remain scarce. The goals of this study were as follows: (1) analyze LST levels in commercially available shellfish in Zhejiang province, China,
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Although lipophilic shellfish toxins (LSTs) pose a significant threat to the health of seafood consumers, their systematic investigation and risk assessment remain scarce. The goals of this study were as follows: (1) analyze LST levels in commercially available shellfish in Zhejiang province, China, and determine factors influencing LST distribution; (2) assess the acute dietary risk of exposure to LSTs for local consumers during the red tide period; (3) explore potential health risks of LSTs in humans; and (4) study the acute risks of simultaneous dietary exposure to LSTs and paralytic shellfish toxins (PSTs). A total of 546 shellfish samples were collected. LSTs were detected in 89 samples (16.3%) at concentrations below the regulatory limits. Mussels were the main shellfish species contaminated with LSTs. Spatial variations were observed in the yessotoxin group. Acute exposure to LSTs based on multiple scenarios was low. The minimum tolerable exposure durations for LSTs calculated using the mean and the 95th percentile of consumption data were 19.7 and 4.9 years, respectively. Our findings showed that Zhejiang province residents are at a low risk of combined exposure to LSTs and PSTs; however, the risk may be higher for children under 6 years of age in the extreme scenario.
Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Emerging Toxins Accumulation in Shellfish)
Open AccessArticle
Functional Genomics of a Collection of Gammaproteobacteria Isolated from Antarctica
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Michele Giovannini, Walter Vieri, Emanuele Bosi, Christopher Riccardi, Angelina Lo Giudice, Renato Fani, Marco Fondi and Elena Perrin
Mar. Drugs 2024, 22(6), 238; https://doi.org/10.3390/md22060238 - 23 May 2024
Abstract
Antarctica, one of the most extreme environments on Earth, hosts diverse microbial communities. These microbes have evolved and adapted to survive in these hostile conditions, but knowledge on the molecular mechanisms underlying this process remains limited. The Italian Collection of Antarctic Bacteria (
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Antarctica, one of the most extreme environments on Earth, hosts diverse microbial communities. These microbes have evolved and adapted to survive in these hostile conditions, but knowledge on the molecular mechanisms underlying this process remains limited. The Italian Collection of Antarctic Bacteria (Collezione Italiana Batteri Antartici (CIBAN)), managed by the University of Messina, represents a valuable repository of cold-adapted bacterial strains isolated from various Antarctic environments. In this study, we sequenced and analyzed the genomes of 58 marine Gammaproteobacteria strains from the CIBAN collection, which were isolated during Italian expeditions from 1990 to 2005. By employing genome-scale metrics, we taxonomically characterized these strains and assigned them to four distinct genera: Pseudomonas, Pseudoalteromonas, Shewanella, and Psychrobacter. Genome annotation revealed a previously untapped functional potential, including secondary metabolite biosynthetic gene clusters and antibiotic resistance genes. Phylogenomic analyses provided evolutionary insights, while assessment of cold-shock protein presence shed light on adaptation mechanisms. Our study emphasizes the significance of CIBAN as a resource for understanding Antarctic microbial life and its biotechnological potential. The genomic data unveil new horizons for insight into bacterial existence in Antarctica.
Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Polar Marine Bacteria: From Physiology to Biotechnological Applications)
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New Secondary Metabolites from Marine-Derived Fungus Talaromyces minnesotensis BTBU20220184
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Weiliang Wang, Jingjing Wang, Fuhang Song, Renming Jia, Long Wang, Xiuli Xu and Na Yang
Mar. Drugs 2024, 22(6), 237; https://doi.org/10.3390/md22060237 - 23 May 2024
Abstract
Six new compounds, talamitones A and B (1 and 2), demethyltalamitone B (3), talamiisocoumaringlycosides A and B (4 and 5), and talaminaphtholglycoside (6), together with six known compounds (7–12), were isolated
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Six new compounds, talamitones A and B (1 and 2), demethyltalamitone B (3), talamiisocoumaringlycosides A and B (4 and 5), and talaminaphtholglycoside (6), together with six known compounds (7–12), were isolated from the marine-derived fungus Talaromyces minnesotensis BTBU20220184. The new structures were characterized by using HRESIMS and NMR. This is the first report of isocoumaringlycoside derivatives from a fungus of the Talaromyces genus. Compounds 5, 6, and 9 showed synergistic antibacterial activity against Staphylococcus aureus.
Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Bioactive Secondary Metabolites of Marine Fungi 2.0)
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Open AccessArticle
Genomics- and Transcriptomics-Guided Discovery of Clavatols from Arctic Fungi Penicillium sp. MYA5
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Yuan-Yuan Sun, Bo Hu, Hao-Bing Yu, Jing Zhou, Xian-Chao Meng, Zhe Ning, Jin-Feng Ding, Ming-Hui Cui and Xiao-Yu Liu
Mar. Drugs 2024, 22(6), 236; https://doi.org/10.3390/md22060236 - 22 May 2024
Abstract
Clavatols exhibit a wide range of biological activities due to their diverse structures. A genome mining strategy identified an A5cla cluster from Penicillium sp. MYA5, derived from the Arctic plant Dryas octopetala, is responsible for clavatol biosynthesis. Seven clavatols, including one new
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Clavatols exhibit a wide range of biological activities due to their diverse structures. A genome mining strategy identified an A5cla cluster from Penicillium sp. MYA5, derived from the Arctic plant Dryas octopetala, is responsible for clavatol biosynthesis. Seven clavatols, including one new clavatol derivate named penicophenone F (1) and six known clavatols (2–7), were isolated from Penicillium sp. MYA5 using a transcriptome mining strategy. These structures were elucidated by comprehensive spectroscopic analysis. Antibacterial, aldose reductase inhibition, and siderophore-producing ability assays were conducted on compounds 1–7. Compounds 1 and 2 demonstrated inhibitory effects on the ALR2 enzyme with inhibition rates of 75.3% and 71.6% at a concentration of 10 μM, respectively. Compound 6 exhibited antibacterial activity against Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli with MIC values of 4.0 μg/mL and 4.0 μg/mL, respectively. Additionally, compounds 1, 5, and 6 also showed potential iron-binding ability.
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(This article belongs to the Special Issue Bioinformatics of Marine Natural Products 3.0)
Open AccessArticle
Methanolic Extract and Brominated Compound from the Brazilian Marine Sponge Aplysina fulva Are Neuroprotective and Modulate Inflammatory Profile of Microglia
by
Catarina de Jesus Nunes, Cinthia Cristina Santos, Erica Novaes Soares, Irlã Santos Lima, Uesley Vieira Alves, Emílio Lanna, Ronan Batista, Ravena Pereira do Nascimento and Silvia Lima Costa
Mar. Drugs 2024, 22(6), 235; https://doi.org/10.3390/md22060235 - 22 May 2024
Abstract
Neurodegenerative diseases involve neuroinflammation and a loss of neurons, leading to disability and death. Hence, the research into new therapies has been focused on the modulation of the inflammatory response mainly by microglia/macrophages. The extracts and metabolites of marine sponges have been presented
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Neurodegenerative diseases involve neuroinflammation and a loss of neurons, leading to disability and death. Hence, the research into new therapies has been focused on the modulation of the inflammatory response mainly by microglia/macrophages. The extracts and metabolites of marine sponges have been presented as anti-inflammatory. This study evaluated the toxicity of an extract and purified compound from the Brazilian marine sponge Aplysina fulva as well as its neuroprotection against inflammatory damage associated with the modulation of microglia response. PC12 neuronal cells and neonatal rat microglia were treated with the methanolic extract of A. fulva (AF-MeOH, 0.1–200 μg/mL) or with its purified dimethyl ketal of 3,5-dibromoverongiaquinol (AF-H1, 0.1–100 μM). Cytotoxicity was determined by MTT tetrazolium, Trypan blue, and propidium iodide; microglia were also treated with the conditioned medium (CM) from PC12 cells in different conditions. The microglia phenotype was determined by the expression of Iba-1 and CD68. AF-MeOH and AF-H1 were not toxic to PC12 or the microglia. Inflammatory damage with Escherichia coli lipopolysaccharide (LPS, 5 μg/mL) was not observed in the PC12 cells treated with AF-MeOH (1–10 μg/mL) or AF-H1 (1–10 μM). Microglia subjected to the CM from PC12 cells treated with LPS and AF-MeOH or AF-H1 showed the control phenotype-like (multipolar, low-CD68), highlighting the anti-neuroinflammatory and neuroprotective effect of components of this marine sponge.
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(This article belongs to the Special Issue Bio-Active Components from Marine Sponges)
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Open AccessArticle
Immunostimulatory Effects of Korean Mineral-Rich Seawaters on Cyclophosphamide-Induced Immunosuppression in Mice
by
Choong-Gon Kim, Jae Ho Choi, Sae-Kwang Ku and Chang-Hyun Song
Mar. Drugs 2024, 22(6), 234; https://doi.org/10.3390/md22060234 - 21 May 2024
Abstract
Deep seawater (DS), obtained from a depth over 200 m, has health benefits due to its rich nutrients and minerals, and intake of DS has shown diverse immunomodulatory effects in allergies and cancer. Therefore, the immunostimulatory effects of Korean mineral-rich seawaters were examined
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Deep seawater (DS), obtained from a depth over 200 m, has health benefits due to its rich nutrients and minerals, and intake of DS has shown diverse immunomodulatory effects in allergies and cancer. Therefore, the immunostimulatory effects of Korean mineral-rich seawaters were examined in a cyclophosphamide (CPA)-induced immunosuppression model. Three samples of Korean seawater, namely DS from the East Sea off the coasts of Pohang (PDS) and Uljin (UDS), and seawater from the West Sea off the coast of Boryeong (BS), were collected. The seawaters were abundant in several minerals (calcium, iron, zinc, selenium, etc.). Mice were orally administered the seawaters for 42 days, followed by CPA-induced immunosuppression. The CPA induction reduced the weight of the spleen and lymph nodes; however, the administration of seawaters increased the weight of the lymphoid organs, accompanied by stimulation of natural killer cells’ activity and NF-kB-mediated cytokine production (IFNγ, TNFα, IL1β, IL6, and IL12). The mouse-derived splenocytes showed lymphoproliferation without cytotoxicity in the seawater groups. Histopathological analysis revealed that the seawaters improved the CPA-induced atrophic changes by promoting lymphoproliferation in the spleen and lymph nodes. These results provide useful information for the use of Korean mineral-rich seawaters, particularly PDS and UDS, as alternative immunostimulants under immunosuppressive conditions.
Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Marine Drug Research in Korea II)
Open AccessArticle
Volatile Organic Compounds Produced by a Deep-Sea Bacterium Efficiently Inhibit the Growth of Pseudomonas aeruginosa PAO1
by
Yuanyuan Hu, Ge Liu, Chaomin Sun and Shimei Wu
Mar. Drugs 2024, 22(5), 233; https://doi.org/10.3390/md22050233 - 20 May 2024
Abstract
The deep-sea bacterium Spongiibacter nanhainus CSC3.9 has significant inhibitory effects on agricultural pathogenic fungi and human pathogenic bacteria, especially Pseudomonas aeruginosa, the notorious multidrug-resistant pathogen affecting human public health. We demonstrate that the corresponding antibacterial agents against P. aeruginosa PAO1 are volatile
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The deep-sea bacterium Spongiibacter nanhainus CSC3.9 has significant inhibitory effects on agricultural pathogenic fungi and human pathogenic bacteria, especially Pseudomonas aeruginosa, the notorious multidrug-resistant pathogen affecting human public health. We demonstrate that the corresponding antibacterial agents against P. aeruginosa PAO1 are volatile organic compounds (VOCs, namely VOC-3.9). Our findings show that VOC-3.9 leads to the abnormal cell division of P. aeruginosa PAO1 by disordering the expression of several essential division proteins associated with septal peptidoglycan synthesis. VOC-3.9 hinders the biofilm formation process and promotes the biofilm dispersion process of P. aeruginosa PAO1 by affecting its quorum sensing systems. VOC-3.9 also weakens the iron uptake capability of P. aeruginosa PAO1, leading to reduced enzymatic activity associated with key metabolic processes, such as reactive oxygen species (ROS) scavenging. Overall, our study paves the way to developing antimicrobial compounds against drug-resistant bacteria by using volatile organic compounds.
Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Bioactive Compounds from the Deep-Sea-Derived Microorganisms 2.0)
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Marine-Derived Sulfated Glycans Inhibit the Interaction of Heparin with Adhesion Proteins of Mycoplasma pneumoniae
by
Jiyuan Yang, Yuefan Song, Ke Xia, Vitor H. Pomin, Chunyu Wang, Mingqiang Qiao, Robert J. Linhardt, Jonathan S. Dordick and Fuming Zhang
Mar. Drugs 2024, 22(5), 232; https://doi.org/10.3390/md22050232 - 20 May 2024
Abstract
Mycoplasma pneumoniae, a notable pathogen behind respiratory infections, employs specialized proteins to adhere to the respiratory epithelium, an essential process for initiating infection. The role of glycosaminoglycans, especially heparan sulfate, is critical in facilitating pathogen–host interactions, presenting a strategic target for therapeutic
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Mycoplasma pneumoniae, a notable pathogen behind respiratory infections, employs specialized proteins to adhere to the respiratory epithelium, an essential process for initiating infection. The role of glycosaminoglycans, especially heparan sulfate, is critical in facilitating pathogen–host interactions, presenting a strategic target for therapeutic intervention. In this study, we assembled a glycan library comprising heparin, its oligosaccharide derivatives, and a variety of marine-derived sulfated glycans to screen the potential inhibitors for the pathogen–host interactions. By using Surface Plasmon Resonance spectroscopy, we evaluated the library’s efficacy in inhibiting the interaction between M. pneumoniae adhesion proteins and heparin. Our findings offer a promising avenue for developing novel therapeutic strategies against M. pneumoniae infections.
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(This article belongs to the Special Issue Biomedical Application of Marine-Derived Carbohydrates)
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Open AccessArticle
Denigrins H–L: Sulfated Derivatives of Denigrins D and E from a New Zealand Dictyodendrilla c.f. dendyi Marine Sponge
by
Lauren Gris, Michèle R. Prinsep, Linda M. Peters and Christopher N. Battershill
Mar. Drugs 2024, 22(5), 231; https://doi.org/10.3390/md22050231 - 20 May 2024
Abstract
Five new sulfated arylpyrrole and arylpyrrolone alkaloids, denigrins H–L (1–5), along with two known compounds, dictyodendrin B and denigrin G, were isolated from an extract of a New Zealand Dictyodendrilla c.f. dendyi marine sponge. Denigrins H–L represent the first
[...] Read more.
Five new sulfated arylpyrrole and arylpyrrolone alkaloids, denigrins H–L (1–5), along with two known compounds, dictyodendrin B and denigrin G, were isolated from an extract of a New Zealand Dictyodendrilla c.f. dendyi marine sponge. Denigrins H–L represent the first examples of sulfated denigrins, with denigrins H and I (1–2), as derivatives of denigrin D, containing a pyrrolone core, and denigrins J–L (3–5), as derivatives of denigrin E (6), containing a pyrrole core. Their structures were elucidated by interpretation of 1D and 2D NMR spectroscopic data, ESI, and HR-ESI-MS spectrometric data, as well as comparison with literature data. Compounds 1–5, along with six known compounds previously isolated from the same extract, showed minimal cytotoxicity against the HeLa cervical cancer cell line.
Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Bio-Active Components from Marine Sponges)
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