A Review on Molecular Mechanisms and Patents of Marine-derived Anti-thrombotic Agents

Area of Science:

• Marine biotechnology
• Natural product chemistry
• Cardiovascular pharmacology

Background:

• Thrombosis poses a significant global health risk, leading to cardiovascular diseases and high mortality rates.
• Current anticoagulant therapies have limitations, including bleeding risks and side effects, necessitating novel therapeutic agents.
• Marine organisms are rich sources of bioactive compounds with potential therapeutic applications.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review recent discoveries of antithrombotic agents derived from marine sources.
• To explore the mechanisms of action, extraction processes, and applications of these marine-derived compounds.
• To assess the potential of marine natural products as safer and more effective antithrombotic therapies.

Main Methods:

• Literature review of scientific databases and patent repositories.
• Analysis of identified marine organisms (algae, sponges, mussels, sea cucumber) and their bioactive constituents.
• Examination of reported antithrombotic activities and mechanisms of action.

Main Results:

• Marine organisms yield diverse compounds like sulfated fucans/galactans, peptides, and polysaccharides with demonstrated antithrombotic properties.
• Specific marine-derived agents exhibit fibrinolytic, anticoagulant, and antiplatelet activities.
• Patented extraction and preparation methods highlight the translational potential of these natural products.

Conclusions:

• Marine natural products represent a promising avenue for developing novel antithrombotic drugs with an improved benefit-risk profile.
• Further research into marine-derived compounds could lead to innovative treatments for thrombosis and related cardiovascular conditions.
• Marine biotechnology holds significant potential for future drug discovery in cardiovascular medicine.