Marine bioactive agents: a short review on new marine antidiabetic compounds

From medicinal point of view, marine environment is a diversified source of several biologically active compounds that are relatively untapped. Exploitation of marine resources may provide valuable leads which carry economic and scientific potential. Diabetes is a metabolic disorder and a major cause of mortality and morbidity in both developed and developing countries. Several antidiabetics are available but the major limitations of these synthetic drugs are cost, effectiveness and adverse effects. The relative safety of drugs from natural source is the main reason behind exploring marine resources as a source of therapeutic, food and nutritional compounds. Marine resources provide many compounds including polyphenols, peptides, pigments, phlorotannins and sterols that could be used for the treatment of diabetes and associated complications. The present review focuses on potential marine resources that provide bioactive agents for diabetes treatment.