International Journal of Marine Science, 2024, Vol.14, No.2, 94-101 http://www.aquapublisher.com/index.php/ijms 100 4 Potential Challenges and Prospects of Marine Bioactive Substances Marine bioactive substances hold exciting potential, yet they face certain challenges that must be acknowledged and addressed for broader applications and sustainable resource management. One significant challenge is the sustainability of resources. While marine biodiversity is one of the richest ecosystems on Earth, overharvesting and environmental degradation may threaten the continuous existence of this valuable resource. Protecting marine biodiversity and ensuring responsible resource management require international cooperation to develop and enforce policies and regulations that uphold the sustainability of marine biological resources. Another challenge involves the cost and complexity of collecting and extracting biological samples. Deep-sea collection requires expensive research vessels and submersibles, and the extraction and isolation of compounds demand sophisticated laboratory equipment and techniques. This increases the costs of research and development, limiting the involvement of many researchers. Therefore, scientists need to develop more cost-effective collection and isolation methods to reduce expenses and facilitate widespread research. Additionally, the time and resources required for drug development pose a significant challenge. Moving from the discovery of new compounds to bringing them to the market demands substantial time and funding. Clinical trials, regulatory approvals, and large-scale production all entail considerable investments, potentially hindering the further development of promising marine bioactive compounds due to resource constraints. With the continuous advancement of scientific technologies, researchers are expected to unlock more marine biological resources, discovering new compounds and applications. These compounds exhibit diverse biological activities applicable to treating various diseases, from cancer to infectious diseases and neurological disorders. The diversity of marine bioactive substances positions them as potential sources for multi-sector applications. Beyond drug development, they can find utility in the food industry, biotechnology, cosmetics, and environmental protection, presenting opportunities for different industries to enhance product quality and performance. Most importantly, the research and application of marine bioactive substances offer new hope for global health and medical advancements. Novel drugs and treatment methods have the potential to improve patients' quality of life, enhance the efficiency of disease treatment, and address emerging threats such as antibiotic-resistant bacteria and viruses. Research on marine bioactive substances also contributes to expanding our understanding of biodiversity, providing new insights into ecology and environmental science. 5Summary This study delved into the pharmaceutical potential and bioactivity assessment of marine bioactive substances, covering their definition, diversity, discovery and isolation, pharmacological properties, practical applications, potential medical uses, challenges, and prospects. Marine bioactive substances are a valuable resource with enormous potential for drug development and application. These substances have already provided new treatment options in various medical applications, including anti-cancer, anti-inflammatory, antiviral, antibacterial, antioxidant, neuroprotective, and cardiovascular fields, improving patients' quality of life and enhancing disease treatment efficiency (Riccioni et al., 2021). Furthermore, research in this field contributes to expanding our understanding of biodiversity, offering new insights for ecology and environmental science, and promoting sustainable resource management and environmental protection. In future research directions, scholars are encouraged to delve into marine biodiversity, discover new bioactive substances, and unravel their pharmacological properties. Additionally, promoting interdisciplinary research and fostering collaboration between medicine, ecology, and biotechnology is a direction that requires effort. Better leveraging the precious resource of marine bioactive substances can be achieved through such collaborative efforts. The potential medical applications of marine bioactive substances offer new hope for global health and sustainable development, requiring collective efforts from the global community to realize their potential and provide broader prospects for future research and applications.
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