Open AccessSaving the pharmacy of the sea: How does global change affect species with bioactive potential in the Mediterranean?
Author(s) -
Arnau Carreño,
Ángel Izquierdo,
Josep Lloret
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
mètode. annual review
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.129
H-Index - 4
eISSN - 2174-9221
pISSN - 2174-3487
DOI - 10.7203/metode.11.17002
Subject(s) - mediterranean sea , marine species , fishing , recreation , marine ecosystem , climate change , mediterranean climate , ecosystem , ecology , biology
Several marine species in the Mediterranean produce molecules with bioactive potential that could be used to develop new drugs (antibiotics, antifungals, antivirals, and antitumourals). Different human activities such as pollution, marine recreation, and fishing, as well as climate change, threaten and even endanger some of these species. These vulnerable species with bioactive potential must be protected, especially in marine reserves, not only because they are valuable components of marine ecosystems, but also because they are a potential source of molecules with pharmacological properties that are currently being researched for the creation of new drugs.