Bioprospecting of echinoderms: an integrative review of bioactive potentials for medicinal use

The bioprospecting of echinoderms stands out as a promising field for the identification of bioactive compounds with therapeutic potential. This study is an integrative literature review on the medicinal use of these organisms, emphasizing their antibacterial, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, cytotoxic/anticancer, nutraceutical, and neuroprotective properties. Based on 38 articles retrieved from the Web of Science database, the analysis highlighted the relevance of species such as Holothuria atra, H. forskali, H. leucospilota, and Stichopus horrens as sources of triterpene glycosides, porphyrins, and pigments with high biological activity. The findings confirm the remarkable potential of echinoderms in marine bioprospecting and reveal the need to expand studies in Brazil, a country that, despite its marine biodiversity, still has incipient scientific production in this area. It is concluded that echinoderms represent a strategic, promising, and still underexplored source for the development of innovative therapies and for the advancement of pharmacological innovation.