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Marine Organisms and Bioactive Substances
Our
plant kingdom has been a source for medicinal
compounds for centuries and nearly two thirds of
the world uses nature for their primary sources
for medicinal compounds. One of the
untapped sources for potential therapeutics
could be the marine biology existing in our
oceans and seas in the form of microorganisms
due to the inherant chemically bioactive
properties that could lead to new drug
development from natural sources.
Marine Algae in its microscopic form over the
last few years has been examined as a source for
marine plant natural medicine.
Marine
Microbes
living in the ocean must endure extreme
environmental conditions and massive variations
in temperature in their natural sea habitat.
Survivability is dependent upon biological
diversity and physiological adaptability.
Humans can learn something from these habitats
and may gain useful therapeutic compounds and
bioactive elements to reduce suffering by
turning
to natural phytoceuticals from our underwater
universe. Numerous marine plants have been
researched in clinical pharmacology settings
with promising potential for medical
applications.
Several
Marine Invertebrates
are also
being examined for their unique characteristics
which are marine animals having no backbone.
Some examples are jellyfish which are actually
plankton because they depend upon currents for
movement and also marine seaweed having been
used to detoxify organic pollutants supporting
overall ecological health. The sea
squirt
has been used for anti-tumor support. The
cone snail has been used as a pain killer.
The Caribbean Sponge and South Pacific Sponge
has isolated bioactive metabolites.
Macroscopic marine algae and marine natural
products may be an untapped resource offering
potential for production of metabolites not
found on terrestrial environments. New
therapeutic compounds are needed due to the
emergence of drug-resistant human conditions.
Sea vegetables or seaweed types such as kelp
have stress-relief qualities. Kelp has
higher levels of iodine which is necessary in
regulating the thyroid which is a gland that
controls many of the body's physiological
functions. Seaweed types can provide
magnesium, iron, calcium, folate, and vitamin B.
It is well known that
Marine Fish Oil
may
be helpful to humans. Omega-3 fish oil is
an example of a healthy fat which is used in the
production of the membranes of the cells.
Omega-3 is found in cold-water fish like wild
salmon, cod, trout and tuna. Studies for decades with human trials have
identified benefits and biological activities on
the brain, heart, joints, skin, and
cardiovascular areas. Scientific research
has shown that human consumption of DHA and EPA
omega-3 fatty acids could reduce the risk of
coronary heart disease. Ongoing research
will determine how primitive sea creatures can
help us maintain health through the study of
marine biology.
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