Chemical and biological prospection of marine sponges belonging to the class Demospongiae: a review.

Marine sponges belonging to the class Demospongiae have been shown to be promising sources of bioactive compounds, investigated from the perspective of potential medical applications. This review aimed to collect studies on biological activities of clinical importance and the chemical composition of sponge species from that class, highlighting the structure/activity relationship. To carry out this work, collections were carried out in the Science Direct, Pubmed, Scielo and Google Scholar databases, using the following descriptors: antimicrobial marine sponges, antioxidant marine sponges and marine sponges biological activity. The inclusion criteria were considered: (1) publications from the year 2022 onwards; (2) written in English or Portuguesen and (3) with information on biological assays of extracts, fractions or isolated compounds. The following were excluded: (1) duplicate works; (2) works whose content was not within the scope of the study and (3) studies that did not evaluate biological activities. Results demonstrate that 274 compounds were isolated from different metabolic classes, being evaluated in several biological assays. From the analysis of the data, it is concluded that the compounds studied demonstrate promise for the development of medicines for the control of microorganisms and the treatment of tumors, acting through different mechanisms of action.

Genipa americana L.: A Review on Traditional Uses, Phytochemistry and Biological Activities.

Genipa americana L. (Rubiaceae), genip tree, has therapeutic and nutritional potential. This revision aimed to gather information on botanical characteristics, popular uses, phytochemical, and pharmacological aspects of the tree. The methodology adopted integrated literature published between 2000 and 2024, as well as consultations with the World International Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO); resulting in 39 articles and 11 patents to promote this research. The species, which is native and not endemic to Brazil, is most prevalent in the Amazon biome as it is suitable for reconstructing degraded areas, as well as having various traditional applications. Iridoids are the main secondary metabolites present in the species, especially ginipin, geniposide acid, and geniposide, which are the most prevalent in the fruit. The patents registered with the WIPO indicate its use as a colorant, insecticide, anti-inflammatory, and antioxidant potential, in evidence of its antimicrobial and antioxidant activities. Further studies are needed on the mechanisms of the chemical components' action and on ethnopharmacology.