The Chemistry and Bioactivity of Macrolides from Marine Microorganisms

Marine-derived microorganisms have proved to be a rich and important source of drugs. A huge number of secondary metabolites from marine-derived microorganisms have become significant chemical entities in drug discovery. Marine macrolides, a highly oxygenated and stereochemically elaborated group of secondary metabolites, have been attracting increasing interest. New macrolides with multiple potent biological activities have been isolated from diverse marine microorganisms in recent years. We reviewed marine macrolides from marine fungi and bacteria including actinomycetes and cyanobacteria reported between 2002 and 2013 with an emphasis on their structures, biological activities, and synthesis.