Transcript CMMED Research Activities Robert Bidigare University of Hawaii

Marine Natural Products &
Human Health
Robert R. Bidigare
University of Hawaii
Searching the oceans for new
products
• Marine Nutraceuticals (nutriceuticals are supplements such as
vitamins, minerals, herbs that offer health benefits).
• & Cosmeceuticals (compounds used in cosmetics)
- Lipids (PUFAs and carotenoids)
•PUFA - Polyunsaturated fatty acids that are more healthful than
saturated fats.
•Carotenoids -natural fat-soluble pigments that occurs in
plants. Carotenoids are antioxidants that are important for
healthful diets.
- UV blockers- chemicals that block UV light
- Food additives and stabilizers
Chemicals of interest
Lipids (fats)
• Fats are organic compounds that are freely
soluble in organic solvents
• Specific examples include: fatty acids,
triglycerides, phospholipids, waxes, hormones,
vitamins, sterols, and carotenoid pigments
•
Definitions
– Fatty acids -major component of fats which are used by the body for energy and tissue
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development
Triglycerides -the body's storage form for fat
Carotenoid pigments- the yellow to orange pigments in nature that have health
benefits
–
Phospholipids- the building blocks of cellular membranes
.
Fatty Acids (FAs)
• FA’s are12 to 28 carbon chain
lengths. The diagram illustrates the
•
biochemical structure differences
between
saturated,(SFA),monounsaturated
(MUFA) and polyunsaturated (PUFA)
SFA
MUFA
PUFA
Lipids in Marine Microalgae
• Lipids of interest occur in microalgae
• Possess a very large proportion PUFAs
• Unique to this group are EPA and DHA
omega-3 fatty acids, eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and
docosahexaenoic acid (DHA).
• Omega-3fatty acids are also beneficial for healthful diets.
Pinguiococcus pyrenoidosus
EPA & DHA
• “Omega-3 fatty acids”
, eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and
docosahexaenoic acid (DHA).
• Beneficial effects:
– Lowers the incidence of certain cardiovascular diseases
– Improves neural and retinal development in
infants
- Slows growth of cancerous cells
Carotenoids
• Carotenoids (precursors of vitamin A, they are the red and orange
pigments found in vegetables such as carrots, algae and other plants. )
• Carotenoid examples include astaxanthin, zeaxanthin,
lutein and b,b-carotene
• Carotenoids are now being used as fish/shrimp/poultry
feed ingredients for enhancing the color of animal flesh
and egg yolks
Astaxanthin
Carotenoids
• Carotenoids have tremendous potential as
pharmaceutical products since they have strong
anti-oxidant activity. Anti-oxidants are believed
to help prevent cancer and keep cells healthy.
•
Carotenoids
• Other Important aspects of Carotenoids. They are effective for the
preventive treatment of cancer and age-related macular
degeneration, which is the deterioration of the retina that can cause
blindness)
Marine Sources for High-value
Carotenoids
HL = high light C = control
Green Algae
(Dunaliella salina)
Bacteria
(Erythrobacter longus)
Commercially Available
Carotenoid Products
Other compounds found in algae that are
of interest
UV Blockers: MAAs (Mycosporine-like amino acids)
• (MAAs) are photo-protective compounds in marine
algae.
• High-value additives for paints, plastics & cosmetics
Other products from algae:
Food Additives and Stabilizers
• Agar-Agar: Used for the production of
emulsions and bacteriological culture
mediums
• Carrageen: Used for the production of ice
cream, cosmetics, chocolates, coconut
butter, milk products, syrups and gels
Marine Microbes: An Untapped Resource
for Pharmacological Lead Compounds?
The 3 Domains of Life
(D. M. Karl)
Drugs from the sea: Biochemicals isolated from marine
organisms that are in use or are being developed
Application
Original Source
Status
Anti-viral drugs (herpes
infections)
Sponge, Cryptotethya crypta
Commercially available
Anti-cancer drug (nonHodgkin’s Lymphoma)
Sponge, Cryptotethya crypta
Commercially available
Anti-cancer drug
Bryozoan, Bugula neritina
Phase II clinical trials
Anti-cancer drug (mitotic
inhibitor)
Sea hare, Dolabella
auricularia
Phase I clinical trials
Anti-cancer drug (tumor cell
DNA disruptor)
Tunicate, Ecteinascidia
turbinata
Phase III clinical trials
Anti-cancer drug
Tunicate, Aplidium albicans
Advanced preclinical trials
Anti-cancer drug
Gastropod, Elysia
rubefescens
Advanced preclinical trials
Anti-cancer drug (microtutule
stabilizer)
Sponge, Discodermia
dissoluta
Phase I clinical trials
Anti-cancer drug
Sponge, Lissodendoryx sp.
Advanced preclinical trials
Anti-cancer drug
Sponge, Micromonospora
marina
Advanced preclinical trials
(D. M. Karl)
MARINE MICROBIAL DIVERSITY
Current research is discovering vast quantities of
microbes (bacterioplankton) that are like bacteria but
behave like plants in that they capture energy from the
sun
• Phylogenetic diversity
• Metabolic peculiarities
• Habitat/Niche Space
(D. M. Karl)
POST-1978: NOTHING SHORT OF A MARINE
MICROBIOLOGICAL REVOLUTION!
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1979: Discovery of Synechococcus (Waterbury)
Marine unicellular cyanobacteria of the Synechococcus group occupy an important
position at the base of the marine food web: they are abundant in the world's oceans
and as a result are major primary producers on a global scale and one of the most
numerous genomes on earth
1988: Discovery of Prochlorococcus (Chisholm)
Prochlorococcus is the smallest known phototroph it contributes 30-80% of
primary production in the world's oligotrophic oceans, and is consequently
plays a significant role in the global carbon cycle and the Earth's climate.
1990: Discovery of SAR-11 (Giovannoni)
About ten thousand bacterioplankton of the type SAR 11 are found in every
drop of seawater. Scientists are only beginning to understand what these
organisms do.
(D. M. Karl)
Exploring
the oceans:
NOT EVEN
THE TIP
OF THE
ICEBERG!
T. Newberger
Knowns
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Less than 1% of
species
Only 1 “model”
system (E. coli)
Unknowns
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Novel microbes and
habitats
Novel physiology/
biochemistry
(D. M. Karl)
END