ABSTRACT:
New trends in drug discovery from natural sources emphasize on investigation of the marine ecosystem to explore numerous complex and novel chemical entities. These entities are the sources of new leads for treatment of many diseases such as cancer, AIDS, inflammatory conditions, and a large variety of viral, bacterial and fungal diseases. Sponges, the most primitive multicellular invertebrates, considered as a gold mine during the past 50 years, have fascinated scientists for isolation of promising bioactive compounds for human welfare. Published literature, patents and other scientific records on the genotoxicity and anticancer potentials of marine compounds revealed that few compounds have gone through preclinical evaluations. Study of marine organisms is a discipline, which endeavors to identify and decipher the troubles regarding not only sustainable exploitation of marine life for human health and welfare but also for marine ecology. Study of marine organisms for their bioactive potential, being an important part of marine ecosystem, has picked up the rhythm in recent years with the growing recognition of their importance in human life. This interdisciplinary study of the life in the oceans ensures an exciting new frontier of scientific discovery and economic opportunity.