RESUMO
Marine organisms make up approximately half of the total global biodiversity, with the Molluscacontaining the second largest number of species, including snails and bivalves. The marine environment is highly competitive, hostile and aggressive, which has led to the production of specific and potent bioactive compounds by the mollusca and their associated microorganisms, in a bid to protect themselves and ensure their survival. A diverse array of bioactive compounds can be isolated from the extracts of marine molluscs of which linear, cyclic, and conjugated peptides and depsipeptides form some of themost important bioactive compounds that have been well characterized and some of have already reached clinical trials or been approved for use as therapeutic agents and supplements. This review highlights some of the bioactive peptides that have been obtained from marine molluscs as well the challenges facing bioprospecting of valuable peptides from marine mollusc sources.
RESUMO
The extracts of marine mollusks( Abalone, Aplysia, Sepia, Arcagranosa linnaeus, Cyclina sinensis, Myti-lus coruscus, Chlamys farrei, Meretrix meretrix, Ostrea, Sinonovacula constricta and Solen gradis) classified as poly-saccharides, proteins and peptides, possess the antitumor, anti-aging, and anti-bacterial activities. Cancer patients undergoing long-term chemotherapy usually suffer from the damage to vital organs, and resistances affecting the outcomes of chemotherapy. Therefore, it is imperative to search for anti-cancer drugs with low toxicity and high efficiency. At present, several marine mollusks are being studied. Summary on the antitumor activities of the marine mollusks extrats is presented, which might provide a basis for the development of marine anti-cancer drugs.