Marine sponge metabolites for the control of inflammatory diseases.

Marine organisms are a rich source of bioactive metabolites. A number of potential anti-inflammatory compounds have been isolated from marine invertebrates that exhibit phospholipase A2 inhibitory activity. A wide range of marine compounds have been investigated for their anti-inflammatory properties. Cacospongionolide B and petrosaspongiolide M are representative examples of anti-inflammatory compounds in experimental models of acute or chronic inflammation. The mechanisms of action of these compounds include phospholipase A, inhibition as well as the control of nuclear factor-B activation and inflammatory gene expression. Although many marine compounds exhibit interesting anti-inflammatory properties, few have entered clinical trials. The future development of this class of compounds as anti-inflammatory drugs requires the introduction of novel molecular targets of therapeutic relevance in addition to biotechnological approaches for the production of these molecules.