title: Polysaccharides from the Marine Environment with Pharmacological, Cosmeceutical and Nutraceutical Potential.
abstract: Carbohydrates, also called saccharides, are molecules composed of carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen. They are the most abundant biomolecules and essential components of many natural products and have attracted the attention of researchers because of their numerous human health benefits. Among carbohydrates the polysaccharides represent some of the most abundant bioactive substances in marine organisms. In fact, many marine macro- and microorganisms are good resources of carbohydrates with diverse applications due to their biofunctional properties. By acting on cell proliferation and cycle, and by modulating different metabolic pathways, marine polysaccharides (including mainly chitin, chitosan, fucoidan, carrageenan and alginate) also have numerous pharmaceutical activities, such as antioxidative, antibacterial, antiviral, immuno-stimulatory, anticoagulant and anticancer effects. Moreover, these polysaccharides have many general beneficial effects for human health, and have therefore been developed into potential cosmeceuticals and nutraceuticals. In this review we describe current advances in the development of marine polysaccharides for nutraceutical, cosmeceutical and pharmacological applications. Research in this field is opening new doors for harnessing the potential of marine natural products.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology and Evolution of Marine Organisms, Stazione Zoologica Anton Dohrn, Villa Comunale, 80121 Napoli, Italy. nadia.ruocco@szn.it.|Department of Biology, University of Naples Federico II, Complesso Universitario di Monte Sant'Angelo, Via Cinthia, 80126 Napoli, Italy. nadia.ruocco@szn.it.|Bio-Organic Chemistry Unit, Institute of Biomolecular Chemistry-CNR, Via Campi Flegrei 34, Pozzuoli, 80078 Naples, Italy. nadia.ruocco@szn.it.
authors.forename: Nadia
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Ruocco
authors.affiliation: CROM, Istituto Nazionale Tumori "Fondazione G. Pascale", IRCCS, 80131 Napoli, Italy. s.costantini@istitutotumori.na.it.
authors.forename: Susan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Costantini
authors.affiliation: Dipartimento di Biochimica, Biofisica e Patologia Generale, Seconda Università degli Studi di Napoli, 80131 Napoli, Italy. ste_guar@hotmail.it.
authors.forename: Stefano
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Guariniello
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology and Evolution of Marine Organisms, Stazione Zoologica Anton Dohrn, Villa Comunale, 80121 Napoli, Italy. maria.costantini@szn.it.
authors.forename: Maria
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Costantini
mesh_terms: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000494:pharmacology; D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000494:pharmacology; D059001:Aquatic Organisms / Q000737:chemistry*; D002453:Cell Cycle / Q000187:drug effects; D049109:Cell Proliferation / Q000187:drug effects; D000068937:Cosmeceuticals; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D006801:Humans; D053858:Metabolic Networks and Pathways / Q000187:drug effects; D011134:Polysaccharides / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D000975:Antioxidants; D000998:Antiviral Agents; D000068937:Cosmeceuticals; D011134:Polysaccharides
keywords: cosmeceutics; marine polysaccharides; nutraceutics; pharmaceutics