Abstract

Marine ecosystems are home to an astonishing variety of organisms that produce biological compounds with unique chemical structures and potent biological activities. This study investigates the impact of natural marine compounds from sponges, algae, corals, and marine bacteria on the formulation of biomedical applications and pharmaceutical products. These compounds show various therapeutic effects, including antimicrobial, anticancer, anti-inflammatory, antiviral, and even neuroprotective activities. Progress in marine biotechnology, genome mining, and high-throughput screening has accelerated the discovery and synthesis of novel marine-derived compounds, presenting new prospects for drug development. The paper details the remarkable marine-derived drugs such as cytarabine, trabectedin, and ziconotide, while also contemplating sustainable harvesting, compound isolation, and large-scale production. Emphasis is placed on the need for interdisciplinary study of marine biology, pharmacology, and synthetic chemistry to exploit the ocean's pharmaceutical treasure fully. The results highlighted the overlooked potential of marine natural products as rich resources for innovative solutions in the face of escalating drug resistance and unfulfilled therapeutic needs