Potentiality of Marine Ecosystem Bioactive Compounds

Of the several types of aquatic ecosystems, marine ecosystems are the largest and are characterised by high salt concentrations. Therefore, aquatic flora, fauna and microbes which are highly halophilic can be found here abundantly. Apart from oceans and seas, there are various other types of marine habitats like salt marshes, estuaries, intertidal areas, coral reefs, lagoons and mangroves . Bioactive compounds are those chemicals produced typically in small quantities by plants, animals or microbes for their own protection or functioning, but have beneficial effects on human health. Since marine ecosystems are exceptionally rich in biodiversity, the prospect of availability of the bountiful bioactive agents can easily be conjectured. Primary producers like microalgae and phytoplanktons are rich sources of various pigments like carotenoids, beta-carotene and polyunsaturated aldehyde. Sea-weeds are abundant in vitamins A and C, and also in phenolic compounds, terpenes, etc. Primary consumers like crustaceans and molluscs are reported to produce steroids having high medicinal potential. Carnivorous fishes like herring, shad and mackerel are the secondary consumers. Mackerel is a great source of the amino acid taurine, which is considered to have beneficial effects on heart health. Top carnivorous fishes like the haddock or cod belong to the category of tertiary consumers. Cod is popular for its “cod-liver oil” which has high contents of vitamins A, D and E and omega-3-fatty acids whose health benefits are familiar to all. Even the decomposers like marine bacteria and fungi are effective manufacturers of alkaloids, terpenes, peptides and mixed biosynthetic compounds derived from polyketides. Thus, it will not be an exaggeration to say that the marine ecosystem has a plethora of bioactive compounds, and it can easily be proclaimed that collective efforts in the form of copious research and documentation are required to enable sustainable utilisation of this untapped bioresource. This review is presented here as a small step to reach that goal.