Cardiovascular and Metabolic Disease Center, Smart Marine Therapeutic Center, Department of Physiology, College of Medicine, Inje University, Busan 57392, Korea
Elena A. Vasileva
G.B. Elyakov Pacific Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Far-Eastern Branch of the Russian Academy of Science, Prospect 100 let Vladivostoku, 159, 690022 Vladivostok, Russia
Natalia P. Mishchenko
G.B. Elyakov Pacific Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Far-Eastern Branch of the Russian Academy of Science, Prospect 100 let Vladivostoku, 159, 690022 Vladivostok, Russia
Sergey A. Fedoreyev
G.B. Elyakov Pacific Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Far-Eastern Branch of the Russian Academy of Science, Prospect 100 let Vladivostoku, 159, 690022 Vladivostok, Russia
Jin Han
Cardiovascular and Metabolic Disease Center, Smart Marine Therapeutic Center, Department of Physiology, College of Medicine, Inje University, Busan 57392, Korea
The marine drug histochrome is a special natural antioxidant. The active substance of the drug is echinochrome A (Ech A, 7-ethyl-2,3,5,6,8-pentahydroxy-1,4-naphthoquinone), the most abundant quinonoid pigment in sea urchins. The medicine is clinically used in cardiology and ophthalmology based on the unique properties of Ech A, which simultaneously block various links of free radical reactions. In the last decade, numerous studies have demonstrated the effectiveness of histochrome in various disease models without adverse effects. Here, we review the data on the various clinical effects and modes of action of Ech A in ophthalmic, cardiovascular, cerebrovascular, inflammatory, metabolic, and malignant diseases.