Marine natural products.

Area of Science:

• Marine Natural Products Chemistry
• Marine Pharmacology
• Marine Microbiology

Background:

• Marine natural products (MNPs) represent a rich source of novel chemical entities with diverse biological activities.
• The study of MNPs is crucial for drug discovery and understanding marine ecosystems.
• Research in 2023 continued to expand the known diversity of MNPs and their origins.

Purpose of the Study:

• To provide a comprehensive review of marine natural products literature published in 2023.
• To highlight newly discovered MNP compounds, their biological activities, and source organisms.
• To analyze advancements in MNP biosynthesis and the role of prokaryotes in their production.

Main Methods:

• Systematic literature search for marine natural products research published between January and December 2023.
• Categorization of compounds based on source organisms (microorganisms, algae, invertebrates, etc.).
• Analysis of reported biological activities, biosynthetic studies, and synthetic efforts.

Main Results:

• A total of 582 citations were reviewed, focusing on 1220 new compounds from 340 papers published in 2023.
• MNPs were isolated from a wide array of marine sources including microorganisms, algae, sponges, and mollusks.
• Significant emphasis was placed on novel compounds, their associated biological activities, and geographical origins.

Conclusions:

• The field of marine natural products continues to yield a high volume of novel compounds with potential therapeutic applications.
• Further research into MNP biosynthesis and the symbiotic relationships involved, particularly with prokaryotes, is warranted.
• The 2023 literature demonstrates sustained global interest and progress in marine natural product discovery and development.