Abstract

IN-DEPTH REVIEW ON MARINE-DERIVED TERPENOIDS AND STEROLS: A MULTIFACETED EXPLORATION OF THEIR CHEMISTRY, PHARMACOLOGY, AND PHARMACOGNOSY FOR DRUG DEVELOPMENT

Pallave Kumar Mandal, Suresh Babu Emandi, Arpan Dutta, Anil Kumar, Uriti Sri Venkatesh, Manoj Kumar Katual, Yash Srivastav, Konda V. V. S. Krishna and Nitish Kumar Raghav*

Abstract

Background: Marine ecosystems, covering over 70% of the Earth's surface, are rich in biodiversity and host unique organisms that produce structurally diverse secondary metabolites. Among these, terpenoids and sterols stand out for their bioactivity and potential applications in drug development. Objectives: This review explores the chemistry, pharmacology, and pharmacognosy of marine-derived terpenoids and sterols. It highlights their structural diversity, pharmacological activities across therapeutic domains, challenges in sustainable sourcing, and the prospects for drug development. Methods: The review compiles data from recent studies on marinederived terpenoids and sterols, discussing their classification, biosynthesis pathways, and structural modifications that enhance pharmacological efficacy. Techniques such as bioassay-guided fractionation, chromatographic methods, and spectroscopic characterization are examined for compound isolation and analysis. Results: Marine-derived terpenoids and sterols exhibit diverse biological activities, including anticancer, anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, and neuroprotective effects. Compounds such as halichondrin B, eleutherobin, and fucosterol have demonstrated significant therapeutic potential. Advances in biosynthetic pathway engineering and omics technologies are unlocking new possibilities for discovering novel compounds and optimizing their bioactivities. Challenges: Major challenges include the sustainable harvesting of marine organisms, low yield of bioactive compounds, and the complexity of chemical synthesis. Regulatory and ethical considerations, such as compliance with the Nagoya Protocol, also impact drug development efforts. Conclusions: Marine-derived terpenoids and sterols represent a promising frontier in natural product research. Innovations in sustainable extraction methods, synthetic biology, and artificial intelligence can mitigate challenges and enhance their potential as drug candidates. Future research should focus on underexplored marine ecosystems and the development of novel synthetic strategies to expand the chemical diversity of these bioactive compounds.

Keywords: Marine-derived terpenoids, sterols, pharmacognosy, drug development, bioactivity, sustainable harvesting, natural products.