Marine Bioactive Compounds from Functional Seafoods: Pharmacological Mechanisms and Health Applications

TL;DR

Functional seafoods from marine sources offer health benefits through bioactive compounds and may help prevent chronic diseases, though challenges remain in their regulation and sustainability.

Contribution

This review highlights pharmacological mechanisms and health applications of marine bioactive compounds while emphasizing the need for interdisciplinary research.

Findings

Marine bioactive compounds show anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and immunomodulatory effects.

Functional seafoods may help manage chronic diseases like cardiovascular and neurodegenerative disorders.

Sustainable aquaculture and biotechnology advancements are improving the quality and relevance of these compounds.

Abstract

Functional seafoods derived from marine organisms, including fish, shellfish and algae, are gaining increasing attention due to their high content of bioactive compounds, such as omega-3 fatty acids, peptides, polysaccharides and antioxidants, which provide health benefits beyond basic nutrition. These marine-derived compounds exhibit a wide range of biological activities and have been investigated for their potential roles in the prevention and management of chronic diseases, including cardiovascular, neurodegenerative, cancer and gastrointestinal disorders. Their effects are largely mediated through anti-inflammatory, antioxidant and immunomodulatory mechanisms. Advances in biotechnology, including genetic engineering and improved extraction of bioactive compounds, have enhanced the nutritional quality and pharmacological relevance of functional seafoods. At the same time, sustainable aquaculture practices are being developed to reduce environmental impacts. Nevertheless, challenges such as regulatory inconsistencies, scalability issues and limited understanding of bioavailability and long-term effects still persist. These constraints should be considered when interpreting mechanistic and efficacy findings presented across different study designs and exposure conditions. Future perspectives highlight innovations in precision aquaculture, waste valorisation and traceability as key strategies to improve sustainability and strengthen consumer trust. This review summarizes current knowledge on functional seafoods, with emphasis on pharmacological mechanisms, clinical applications and the need for interdisciplinary research to optimize their health benefits and commercial potential.

Figures