There is increasing demand from consumers for healthier and more sustainable foods. The marine biosphere is a rich source of health-promoting substances like bioactive peptides, polysaccharides, polyunsaturated lipids, carotenoids, polyphenolic compounds, minerals, saponins, and phytosterols. These substances display a myriad of potentially beneficial biological functions including antioxidant, antimicrobial, anticancer, anti-diabetic, anti-obesity, anti-Alzheimer, anti-fibrotic, neuroprotective, sleep-enhancing, lipid-lowering, wound healing, and skin protection activities. This review provides an update on recent research on bioactive ingredients derived from aquatic sources and highlights their potential application in the food, supplement, and pharmaceutical industries. Key techno-functional and sensorial attributes of these substances are reviewed, as well as their gastrointestinal fate and potential toxicity. This review should provide academia and industry with new insights into the potential application of marine bioactives in products intended to improve human health and wellbeing.
Keywords: Marine organisms; bioactive ingredients; functional foods; gastrointestinal stability; safety assessment; techno-functional characteristics.