Studies of chemical distribution and pharmacological activities of porifera-derived alkaloids: A review (2000–2023)

This review explores the non-random distribution of chemical novelty among marine invertebrate phyla, with a particular focus on Porifera (sponges), which have exhibited the highest average count of novel natural products per species since 1990. Sponges, considered the oldest multicellular animals, boast approximately 15,000 species, with 8553 officially recognized. They are integral to marine ecosystems and have ecological, economic, and biopharmaceutical significance. The review outlines the structure and habits of sponges, their historical use, and their prevalence in various marine and freshwater habitats. Notably, sponges are recognized as key sources of marine natural products, with their potential medicinal applications extensively studied. Lead compounds derived from sponges have yielded marine pharmaceuticals, including cytarabine, vidarabine, and eribulin mesylate, approved for anticancer and antiviral purposes. Ongoing clinical studies involve novel sponge derivatives such as gemcitabine, hemiasterlin, discodermolide, and PM060184. The review underscores the global interest among researchers in natural product chemistry and pharmaceutical sciences in investigating marine sponges for medication development. The authors conducted a comprehensive literature review from 2000 to 2023, summarizing the chemistry and pharmacological activities of porifera-derived alkaloids based on 212 research papers. The chemical distribution section emphasizes the oceans as a vast repository of unexplored chemical diversity, with sponges yielding approximately 413 alkaloids from 2000 to 2023. Overall, the review provides a comprehensive overview of the chemical and pharmacological diversity of porifera-derived alkaloids, highlighting the importance of sponges as valuable subjects for chemical investigations with potential implications for medication development.