Unlocking the Therapeutic Potential of Marine Bioactives for the Management of Obesity: A Detailed Review

Background: Obesity is a global health concern with numerous comorbidities, including cardiovascular disease, Type 2 diabetes, and cancers. Marine compounds, due to their unique properties and targets, have shown promising potential in various therapeutic areas. Emerging research suggests that certain marine-derived pharmaceuticals may play a role in combating obesity through mechanisms involving inflammation, oxidative stress, and lipid metabolism. Understanding the impact of such compounds on weight management could offer valuable insights and innovative solutions for the global obesity epidemic. Objective: To summarize the main findings on marine derivatives that help in the management and prevention of obesity, exploring their potential benefits in weight management, metabolic health, and overall well-being. Methods: Literature search of the relevant papers from various resources like PubMed, Bentham, ScienceDirect, Google scholar, Scopus etc. The purpose was to identify published work from year 1999 to 2024. Key words were used during data mining were ‘marine compounds and obesity’, ‘marine compounds’, ‘adipose tissue’, ‘oxidative stress’, ‘marine organism’ ‘therapeutic marine compounds’. The search yielded 465 articles, further screening was performed by using reading title and abstract and then scrutinized by reading through the entire article. Results: This review highlights the diverse functions of marine compounds, such as their antioxidant properties, anti-inflammatory effects, and anti-adipogenic properties, which contribute to their potential role in combating obesity. Studies suggest that marine derived compounds may help reduce adiposity and promote metabolic health, making them promising candidates for obesity management. Conclusion: Overall, marine-derived pharmaceuticals offer a promising avenue for addressing the obesity epidemic by harnessing the diverse bioactive compounds found in marine organisms. These compounds have shown potential in targeting key pathways involved in energy metabolism and fat storage, providing a novel approach to combating obesity-related issues. Further research is needed to elucidate the mechanisms underlying the beneficial effects of marine compounds on obesity-related outcomes and to optimize their use in clinical practice and public health initiatives.