The Multiple Applications of Marine-derived Bioactives

Marine biotechnology is a rapidly evolving field that focuses on the exploration and utilization of marine-derived bioactives, which are secondary metabolites with diverse biological activities such as antibacterial, antifungal, anticancer, analgesic, anti-inflammatory, nutritional, and photoprotective properties. The exploitation of these marine resources is crucial for advancing Blue Bioeconomy strategies, particularly within the European Union. Despite the vast potential of marine biota, the oceans remain largely underexplored and underexploited, presenting a significant opportunity for discovering alternative sources of food, drugs, and chemicals. Recent studies have highlighted the promising applications of marine bioactives in various sectors, yet there remains a substantial gap in fully understanding and harnessing these natural products. Addressing this gap requires multidisciplinary collaborations across scientific fields to develop innovative technologies and methodologies for the sustainable exploitation of marine resources.

This Research Topic aims to consolidate and advance the field of marine bioactive natural products by gathering a diverse collection of works that explore their multiple applications. The primary objective is to foster a comprehensive understanding of marine-derived bioactives and their potential to contribute to various industries, including pharmaceuticals, functional foods, and other bioproducts. By addressing key questions and testing hypotheses related to the efficacy, safety, and sustainability of these bioactives, this research topic seeks to drive innovation and development in marine natural products research.

To gather further insights in the exploration and application of marine-derived bioactives, we welcome articles addressing, but not limited to, the following themes:

- Marine natural products and their diverse biological activities
- Biodiversity and experimental biology in marine environments
- Industrial biotechnology applications, including pharmaceuticals and functional foods
- Contributions to the Blue Bioeconomy and development of bioproducts
- Analytical chemistry and related chemical sciences
- Ethnopharmacological context and detailed characterization of marine materials

All the manuscripts submitted to this project will be peer-reviewed and need to fully comply with the Four Pillars of Best Practice in Ethnopharmacology Four Pillars of Best Practice in Ethnopharmacology (you can freely download the full version here) and the the ConPhyMP statement Front. Pharmacol. 13:953205. Importantly, please ascertain that the ethnopharmacological context is clearly described (pillar 3d) and that the material investigated is characterized in detail (pillars 2 a and b). The ethnopharmacological context must be spelled out clearly in the introduction.