Antibacterial Derivatives of Marine Algae: An Overview of Pharmacological Mechanisms and Applications.
The marine environment is home to a taxonomically diverse ecosystem. Organisms such as algae, molluscs, sponges, corals, and tunicates have evolved to survive the high concentrations of infectious and surface-fouling bacteria that are indigenous to ocean waters. Both macroalgae (seaweeds) and microalgae (diatoms) contain pharmacologically active compounds such as phlorotannins, fatty acids, polysaccharides, peptides, and terpenes which combat bacterial invasion. The resistance of pathogenic bacteria to existing antibiotics has become a global epidemic. Marine algae derivatives have shown promise as candidates in novel, antibacterial drug discovery. The efficacy of these compounds, their mechanism of action, applications as antibiotics, disinfectants, and inhibitors of foodborne pathogenic and spoilage bacteria are reviewed in this article.
School of Food Science and Environmental Health, College of Sciences and Health, Dublin Institute of Technology, Cathal Brugha Street, Dublin D01 HV58, Ireland. Emer.shannon@dit.ie.
Emer
E
Shannon
School of Food Science and Environmental Health, College of Sciences and Health, Dublin Institute of Technology, Cathal Brugha Street, Dublin D01 HV58, Ireland. nissreen.abughannam@dit.ie.
Nissreen
N
Abu-Ghannam
D000818:Animals; D037421:Anthozoa / Q000378:metabolism; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001419:Bacteria / Q000378:metabolism; D001685:Biological Factors / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology*; D017377:Diatoms / Q000378:metabolism; D017753:Ecosystem; D005227:Fatty Acids / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D008386:Marine Biology / Q000379:methods; D058086:Microalgae / Q000378:metabolism*; D008974:Mollusca / Q000378:metabolism; D010455:Peptides / Q000378:metabolism; D011134:Polysaccharides / Q000378:metabolism; D011161:Porifera / Q000378:metabolism; D012624:Seaweed / Q000378:metabolism*; D013729:Terpenes / Q000378:metabolism; D014561:Urochordata / Q000378:metabolism
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D001685:Biological Factors; D005227:Fatty Acids; D010455:Peptides; D011134:Polysaccharides; D013729:Terpenes
allelopathy; antibiotic-resistance; disinfectants; food preservation; marine antibacterial; micro-algae; nutraceuticals; seaweeds