New Drugs from Marine Organisms in Alzheimer's Disease

Mar Drugs. 2015 Dec 25;14(1):5. doi: 10.3390/md14010005.

Abstract

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a multifactorial neurodegenerative disorder. Current approved drugs may only ameliorate symptoms in a restricted number of patients and for a restricted period of time. Currently, there is a translational research challenge into identifying the new effective drugs and their respective new therapeutic targets in AD and other neurodegenerative disorders. In this review, selected examples of marine-derived compounds in neurodegeneration, specifically in AD field are reported. The emphasis has been done on compounds and their possible relevant biological activities. The proposed drug development paradigm and current hypotheses should be accurately investigated in the future of AD therapy directions although taking into account successful examples of such approach represented by Cytarabine, Trabectedin, Eribulin and Ziconotide. We review a complexity of the translational research for such a development of new therapies for AD. Bryostatin is a prominent candidate for the therapy of AD and other types of dementia in humans.

Keywords: Alzheimer’s disease; bryostatin; clinical/preclinical studies; marine drugs; mechanisms of activity; new drugs.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Alzheimer Disease / drug therapy*
  • Aquatic Organisms / metabolism
  • Bryostatins / chemistry
  • Bryostatins / therapeutic use
  • Clinical Trials as Topic
  • Humans
  • Neuroprotective Agents / chemistry
  • Neuroprotective Agents / therapeutic use*
  • Seawater

Substances

  • Bryostatins
  • Neuroprotective Agents
  • bryostatin 1