complexes), as well as the Caribbean colonial sea squirt-derived depsipeptide plitidespin (aplidine) (Li et al. 2009).
Among the substances in the second clinical stage is elisidepsin, a peptide
isolated and refined from Hawaiian sea hares. Plinabulin is a diketopiperazine
derivative developed as a secondary metabolite lead compound from filamentous
bacteria. PM1183, which is in the first clinic stage, is a derivative of ecteinocidin
743, while hemiasterin is a peptide obtained from sponges. As this indicates,
promising natural compounds have been discovered in marine organisms. In many
cases, however, pharmaceutical development has ended up being abandoned due to
very limited specimen quantities.
10.3.1 Substances with Antioxidant Properties
Most organisms on earth survive using the energy obtained from breathing and
oxidizing oxygen in the air. Toxic, cell-damaging substances are unavoidably
created as byproducts of this oxygen-requiring metabolic process. This is known as
active oxygen. Active oxygen attacks organismal tissues and oxidizes and damages
cells, and is also referred to as “free radicals.” Large amounts of active oxygen
forms such as peroxides (O 2
− ) and hydrogen peroxide (H 2 O 2 ) are also produced as
part of the body’s defensive process of eliminating pathogens and foreign matter. In
some cases, their powerful bactericidal properties help to protect the body from
pathogens.
Active oxygen causes damage to cells and their organelles and disrupts protein
functioning by oxidizing amino acids in various proteins within the body. It is also
damaging to nucleic acids and can cause mutations or cancer by altering or separating nucleic acid bases, truncating linkages, and oxidizing and degrading sugars.
As a first step, the production of active oxygen must be minimized. Smoking,
which produces large amounts of active oxygen, must be avoided, and exposure to
harmful environments (including air pollution, UV rays, and food additives) must
be kept to a minimum. Stress should be released before it builds up too much, and
moderate (not excessive) exercise is essential. The more food we consume, the
greater the quantity of active oxygen created; as such, light eating is recommended.
Consuming antioxidants is one way to prevent active oxygen from being produced
within the body. Eating large amounts of fresh fruits and vegetables rich in vitamins
and minerals is also recommended, and green or black tea is recommended instead
of coffee.
As we grow older, more active oxygen is produced and the body’s antioxidation
capabilities decline. When this happens, it becomes impossible to remove active
oxygen through fruit or vegetables alone. In such cases, one approach is to consume
tablets of antioxidant-rich vitamin E (tocopherol), vitamin C, beta-carotene, selenium, melatonin, and/or propolis.
Antioxidation means the inhibition of oxidation. It is a concept that frequently
comes up in explanations of cell aging and its prevention. Cell aging is essentially
the same thing as cell oxidation. The oxygen we breathe into the body has
372
10 Marine Natural Substances
Among the substances in the second clinical stage is elisidepsin, a peptide
isolated and refined from Hawaiian sea hares. Plinabulin is a diketopiperazine
derivative developed as a secondary metabolite lead compound from filamentous
bacteria. PM1183, which is in the first clinic stage, is a derivative of ecteinocidin
743, while hemiasterin is a peptide obtained from sponges. As this indicates,
promising natural compounds have been discovered in marine organisms. In many
cases, however, pharmaceutical development has ended up being abandoned due to
very limited specimen quantities.
10.3.1 Substances with Antioxidant Properties
Most organisms on earth survive using the energy obtained from breathing and
oxidizing oxygen in the air. Toxic, cell-damaging substances are unavoidably
created as byproducts of this oxygen-requiring metabolic process. This is known as
active oxygen. Active oxygen attacks organismal tissues and oxidizes and damages
cells, and is also referred to as “free radicals.” Large amounts of active oxygen
forms such as peroxides (O 2
− ) and hydrogen peroxide (H 2 O 2 ) are also produced as
part of the body’s defensive process of eliminating pathogens and foreign matter. In
some cases, their powerful bactericidal properties help to protect the body from
pathogens.
Active oxygen causes damage to cells and their organelles and disrupts protein
functioning by oxidizing amino acids in various proteins within the body. It is also
damaging to nucleic acids and can cause mutations or cancer by altering or separating nucleic acid bases, truncating linkages, and oxidizing and degrading sugars.
As a first step, the production of active oxygen must be minimized. Smoking,
which produces large amounts of active oxygen, must be avoided, and exposure to
harmful environments (including air pollution, UV rays, and food additives) must
be kept to a minimum. Stress should be released before it builds up too much, and
moderate (not excessive) exercise is essential. The more food we consume, the
greater the quantity of active oxygen created; as such, light eating is recommended.
Consuming antioxidants is one way to prevent active oxygen from being produced
within the body. Eating large amounts of fresh fruits and vegetables rich in vitamins
and minerals is also recommended, and green or black tea is recommended instead
of coffee.
As we grow older, more active oxygen is produced and the body’s antioxidation
capabilities decline. When this happens, it becomes impossible to remove active
oxygen through fruit or vegetables alone. In such cases, one approach is to consume
tablets of antioxidant-rich vitamin E (tocopherol), vitamin C, beta-carotene, selenium, melatonin, and/or propolis.
Antioxidation means the inhibition of oxidation. It is a concept that frequently
comes up in explanations of cell aging and its prevention. Cell aging is essentially
the same thing as cell oxidation. The oxygen we breathe into the body has
372
10 Marine Natural Substances