Recent trends in functional foods and supplements have demonstrated that\nbioactive molecules play a major therapeutic role in human disease. Nutritionists and\nbiomedical and food scientists are working together to discover new bioactive molecules\nthat have increased potency and therapeutic benefits. Marine life constitutes almost 80% of\nthe world biota with thousands of bioactive compounds and secondary metabolites derived\nfrom marine invertebrates such as tunicates, sponges, molluscs, bryozoans, sea slugs and\nmany other marine organisms. These bioactive molecules and secondary metabolites\npossess antibiotic, antiparasitic, antiviral, anti-inflammatory, antifibrotic and anticancer\nactivities. They are also inhibitors or activators of critical enzymes and transcription factors,\ncompetitors of transporters and sequestrants that modulate various physiological pathways.\nThe current review summaries the widely available marine-based nutraceuticals and recent\nresearch carried out for the purposes of isolation, identification and characterization of\nmarine-derived bioactive compounds with various therapeutic potentials.
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