Pharmacological Activities of Extracts and Compounds Isolated from Mediterranean Sponge Sources

Lorenzo Di Cesare Mannelli; Fortunato Palma Esposito; Enrico Sangiovanni; Ester Pagano; Carmen Mannucci; Beatrice Polini; Carla Ghelardini; Mario Dell’Agli; Angelo Antonio Izzo; Gioacchino Calapai; Donatella de Pascale; Paola Nieri

doi:10.3390/ph14121329

Pharmaceuticals (Dec 2021)

Pharmacological Activities of Extracts and Compounds Isolated from Mediterranean Sponge Sources

Lorenzo Di Cesare Mannelli,
Fortunato Palma Esposito,
Enrico Sangiovanni,
Ester Pagano,
Carmen Mannucci,
Beatrice Polini,
Carla Ghelardini,
Mario Dell’Agli,
Angelo Antonio Izzo,
Gioacchino Calapai,
Donatella de Pascale,
Paola Nieri

Affiliations

Lorenzo Di Cesare Mannelli: Department of Neuroscience, Psychology, Drug Research and Child Health—Neurofarba—Section of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Florence, 50139 Florence, Italy
Fortunato Palma Esposito: Department of Marine Biotechnology, Stazione Zoologica Anton Dohrn, 80121 Naples, Italy
Enrico Sangiovanni: Department of Pharmacological and Biomolecular Sciences, University of Milan, 20133 Milan, Italy
Ester Pagano: Department of Pharmacy, School of Medicine and Surgery, University of Naples Federico II, 80131 Naples, Italy
Carmen Mannucci: Department of Biomedical and Dental Sciences and Morphological and Functional Imaging, University of Messina, 98125 Messina, Italy
Beatrice Polini: Department of Pharmacy, University of Pisa, 56126 Pisa, Italy
Carla Ghelardini: Department of Neuroscience, Psychology, Drug Research and Child Health—Neurofarba—Section of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Florence, 50139 Florence, Italy
Mario Dell’Agli: Department of Pharmacological and Biomolecular Sciences, University of Milan, 20133 Milan, Italy
Angelo Antonio Izzo: Department of Pharmacy, School of Medicine and Surgery, University of Naples Federico II, 80131 Naples, Italy
Gioacchino Calapai: Department of Biomedical and Dental Sciences and Morphological and Functional Imaging, University of Messina, 98125 Messina, Italy
Donatella de Pascale: Department of Marine Biotechnology, Stazione Zoologica Anton Dohrn, 80121 Naples, Italy
Paola Nieri: Department of Pharmacy, University of Pisa, 56126 Pisa, Italy

DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/ph14121329
Journal volume & issue: Vol. 14, no. 12
p. 1329

Abstract

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Marine pharmacology is an exciting and growing discipline that blends blue biotechnology and natural compound pharmacology together. Several sea-derived compounds that are approved on the pharmaceutical market were discovered in sponges, marine organisms that are particularly rich in bioactive metabolites. This paper was specifically aimed at reviewing the pharmacological activities of extracts or purified compounds from marine sponges that were collected in the Mediterranean Sea, one of the most biodiverse marine habitats, filling the gap in the literature about the research of natural products from this geographical area. Findings regarding different Mediterranean sponge species were individuated, reporting consistent evidence of efficacy mainly against cancer, infections, inflammatory, and neurological disorders. The sustainable exploitation of Mediterranean sponges as pharmaceutical sources is strongly encouraged to discover new compounds.

Published in Pharmaceuticals

ISSN: 1424-8247 (Online)
Publisher: MDPI AG
Country of publisher: Switzerland
LCC subjects: Medicine: Pharmacy and materia medica
Website: http://www.mdpi.com/journal/pharmaceuticals/

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