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Review
. 2024 Jan 29;14(1):12.
doi: 10.1007/s13659-024-00432-4.

Marine natural products and human immunity: novel biomedical resources for anti-infection of SARS-CoV-2 and related cardiovascular disease

Chunsong Hu  1
Affiliations
Review

Marine natural products and human immunity: novel biomedical resources for anti-infection of SARS-CoV-2 and related cardiovascular disease

Chunsong Hu. Nat Prod Bioprospect. .

Abstract

Marine natural products (MNPs) and marine organisms include sea urchin, sea squirts or ascidians, sea cucumbers, sea snake, sponge, soft coral, marine algae, and microalgae. As vital biomedical resources for the discovery of marine drugs, bioactive molecules, and agents, these MNPs have bioactive potentials of antioxidant, anti-infection, anti-inflammatory, anticoagulant, anti-diabetic effects, cancer treatment, and improvement of human immunity. This article reviews the role of MNPs on anti-infection of coronavirus, SARS-CoV-2 and its major variants (such as Delta and Omicron) as well as tuberculosis, H. Pylori, and HIV infection, and as promising biomedical resources for infection related cardiovascular disease (irCVD), diabetes, and cancer. The anti-inflammatory mechanisms of current MNPs against SARS-CoV-2 infection are also discussed. Since the use of other chemical agents for COVID-19 treatment are associated with some adverse effects in cardiovascular system, MNPs have more therapeutic advantages. Herein, it's time to protect this ecosystem for better sustainable development in the new era of ocean economy. As huge, novel and promising biomedical resources for anti-infection of SARS-CoV-2 and irCVD, the novel potential mechanisms of MNPs may be through multiple targets and pathways regulating human immunity and inhibiting inflammation. In conclusion, MNPs are worthy of translational research for further clinical application.

Keywords: Anti-infection; COVID-19; Cardiovascular disease; Marine natural products; SARS-CoV-2.

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Conflict of interest statement

The author declares no competing interests.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
“Coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2 & Its Variants) Came, Marine Natural Products (MNPs) Halt”. Here, MA: marine (red) algae; Mi: microalgae; S: sponge; SC: sea cucumber and soft coral [Nephthea sp]; SSn: sea snake; SSq: sea squirt; SU: sea urchin; Sw: seaweed; SW: sea water; CoV: Coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2 & Its Variants). Whether a novel idea on “MNPs Hot Pot” will help to combat and prevent the COVID-19 pandemic, it’s worthy of doing animal experimental studies and clinical trials
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