REVIEW OF NATURAL PRODUCTS FROM MARINE ORGANISMS IN THE RED SEA

The marine environment is a rich source of both biological and chemical diversity. This diversity has been the source of unique chemical compounds with potential for drug development. In recent years, a significant number of novel metabolites with potent pharmacological properties have been discovered from the marine organisms. Specifically, the Red Sea is a natural source of these bioactive compounds. The Red Sea is a rich source of marine organisms that contain bioactive substances with intriguing and unique structural features. Examples of marine organisms commonly found in the Red Sea are sponges, softcorals, and algae. Secondary metabolites obtained from Red Sea marine organisms have been reported to show various biological activities such as: cytotoxic, antiproliferative, antiviral and anti-inflammatory activities. This review emphasizes the bioactivity of marine natural products specifically those isolated from the Red Sea. The present article highlights the latest progress in both chemistry and biological activities of metabolites isolated from Red Sea organisms till year 2014, also it provides a perspective on future areas of research interest. This review contains 435 structures and 138 references.