Therapeutic Potential of Marine Biotoxins: From Poison to Pharmacy

Marine biotoxins are poisonous compounds produced mainly by certain kinds of microalgae. These microalgae and their toxins may adversely impact the marine environment and fisheries and even humans directly or indirectly. What is little known is that these toxins and poisons also have therapeutic potential that can be effective against various diseases. The new title, Therapeutic Potential of Marine Biotoxins: From Poison to Pharmacy, explores the state of the art of the therapeutic potential of marine biotoxins, emphasizing the present gaps in the existing knowledge on marine biotoxins. The book covers the types and chemistry of marine biotoxins; marine phyla yielding biotoxins; the impact of marine biotoxins on the environment, on fisheries, and on human health; and marine phycotoxins, invertebrate toxins, and fish toxins and their therapeutic potential as pharmacological agents for several disorders, including cancer, diabetes, hypertension, dyslipidemia, and obesity. The book provides the names of marine taxonomic groups and further explores the therapeutic potential of certain groups, including marine fishes, marine algae, and more. The impact of marine biotoxins on human health is explored using case informative studies. As one of the very few books on this topic, this book will be of great value as a standard reference for pharmaceutical researchers as well as researchers and faculty and students of various disciplines such as biomedical sciences, pharmaceutical sciences, marine biology, and fisheries science. It will also serve as a valuable reference for libraries of colleges and universities and as a guide for the pharmaceutical industries involved in the development of new marine biotoxin-derived drugs.