BIOLOGICAL AND MEDICINAL USE OF MARINE SPONGES

Sponges are spineless animals belong to phylum, “the pore bearers” (Porifera), serve as most
primitive multicellular animals. Marine sponges are softbodied, sessile and filterfeeders. They
frequently produce bioactive compounds as compared to other living microorganisms.
Because sponges cannot move and lack physical defenses, they are highly susceptible to
marine predators such as fish, turtles, and invertebrates.
Sponges are a very much important in nutrient cycles in the coral reef systems and highly
help in supporting the marine food web. Economically they are treated as protective habitats
for animals like crustaceans, molluscs, smallfishes, etc. providing them food as well.
Menusethe skeleton of sponges for washing and bathing as well. Sponges are also used for
Medicinal use in thepl preparation of various antibiotics, anticancer, antifungal,
immunosuppressive drugs, and all.

Role of Sponges in Maintaining Homeostasis of Marine Environment

Sponges are important in nutrient cycles in coral reef systems

 Sea Sponges are very much important in the cycling of the various nutrients like
carbon (C), nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), and sulfur (S) in the marine ecosystem.
 The sponges show varied symbiotic relationships with other microorganisms that
majorly help by contributing to the various nutrient cycles in the coral reef ecosystem.
 They contribute highly in turning the coral reefs as the ‘rainforests of the sea.’They
make up the benthic communities of the various nutrient cycling steps.
 Because of their huge abundance in and near the coralreefs,a high number of associated
microbes show great symbiotic relationships with them.Thus, they not only show the
ability to filter large volumes of water, but sponges also have the potential to be the
key organisms in benthic-pelagic coupling and nutrient cycling in coral reef
ecosystems.
 They do also readily help in the carbon fixation by photosynthetic symbionts. In
Nitrogen fixation, atmospheric nitrogen (N2) can be fixed into ammonia (NH3) by
sponge bacterial symbionts.
Maintain deep-sea biodiversity
 Sponges are really larger and some are even massive than the corals. They are huge
participants in the coral reef ecosystem by providing habitat, food, and safety to the
various other organisms of that ecosystem.
 Adiverse sponge population can affect water quality on the reef as the sponges’filter
water and make it clean, collect bacteria, and process carbon, nitrogen, and
phosphorus.
 They can lead to the encouragement of the growth of the various organisms which are
essential for marine life.
When large numbers of sponges occur together, they are considered indicators of
vulnerable marine ecosystems (VMEs), as they likely harbour a rich community of associated animals.
 Theydirectlyorindirectlytakepartinthevariousbiologicalprocessesthatpromotethe
 growth of varied bio-diversity altogether.
 That’s also why sponge culture is done highly along with fish culture to promote the
growth of the various fishes and other related organisms that are helpful both
economically and biologically like brightly coloured fish, worms, crabs and octopus.
Highly support the marine foodwebs
• Afood web is a sum total of the various interconnected links amongst the food chains
prevailing in an ecosystem. Here, in the marine food web ecosystem, the majority of
the food chains are in one way or other is influenced by the presence of the sponges.
• Most sponges are detritivores, that is they eat organic debris particles and microscopic
life forms that they filter out of ocean water.
• These Cnidarian colonies are directly or indirectly dependent on these sponges for
food. Some often feed on these sponges as a regular source of food.As the Cnidarians
feed on the sponges, the energy is passed to the next trophic level.
• Now next, when the predators like starfish, seaslug, etc.feed on the cnidarians the
energy is further passed to the next trophic level. In this way, the energy flows in the
various food chains and altogether on the wood web.The sponges highly contribute a
lot to it.
Spongecanleadtoalotcleanerfishfarming
• Sponges arereally helpful in fish cultureas well.Theco-cultureofsponges and fishes
can create a win-win situation for both that will biologically benefit the fishes in its
growth.
• In the marine aquaculture, the sponge acts as a natural water filter that could be used
to clean polluted water.And so, it always has been a better option is to culturethem
near the fish cages.
• They are also beneficial for the nutrient cycle because they make it possible for the
flow of various essential nutrients to the fishes by means of a food chain.
They are natural pollution filters
• The water canal system in sponges invariably filter a large volume of seawater and
potentially accumulate heavy metals and other contaminants from the environment.
This makes the water free from oil, polluting microorganisms, etc.
• Moreover, they also have the power to regenerate their body parts which are also too
beneficial.
• They due to their long lifespan have the capability to accumulate anthropogenic
pollutants such as metals over a long period.
IMPORTANCEOFSPONGESINBIOMEDICALSCIENCE
Marine sponges have been considered as a drug treasure house with respect to great potential
regardingtheirsecondarymetabolites.Suchcompoundsprovedtohaveantibacterial,antiviral,
antifungal, antimalarial, antitumor, immunosuppressive, and cardiovascular activity.
Sponges produce a different kind of chemical substances with numerous carbon skeletons,
which have been found to be the main component interfering with human pathogenesis at
different sites.
Thefactthatdifferentdiseaseshavethecapabilitytofightatdifferentsitesinsidethebodycan increase
the chances to produce targeted medicines.

1) Anti-Cancer Compound:
A typical example of marine anticancer drugs is eribulinmesylate, a derivative of
halichondrinBisolatedfromthemarinesponge.Halichondriaokadaihasachievedsuccess in
phase III clinical trials. The spongothymidine and spongouridine nucleosides were the
first successful sponge-derived pharmaceutical drugs isolated from Tectitethya crypta .
Ara-C (cytarabineor1-beta-D-Arabinofuranosylcytosine) recently used for the cure of
leukemia and its combination with Daunoribicin and other anticancerdrugs,is screened in
clinical trials for the treatment of acute myeloid neoplasms.
Spongistatin a macrocyclic lactone polyether isolated fromSpongiasp. marine sponge in
1993 was shown to inhibit microtubule assembly, mitosis, and the binding of tubulin to
vinblastine thereby inducing cytotoxic cell death in numerous cancer cell lines.
Cinachyrellaapion marine sponge was evaluated for anti proliferative, hemolytic,and
cytotoxic properties, besides the ability to induce cell death in tumor cells.
List of examples of anti-cancer compound
2) Anti-Viral Compound:
Perhaps the most important antiviral lead of marine origin reported thus far is the
nucleosideara-A(vidarabine)isolatedfromthespongeCryptotethyacrypta.Ara-Aisa
semisynthetic compound, based on the arabinosyl nucleosides, that inhibits viral DNA
synthesis.
Ara-Ahasbeenusedforthetreatmentofherpesvirusinfections,butitislessefficient and more
toxic than acyclovir . However, ara-Ais capable of inhibiting a cyclovir- resistant HSV
and VZV (varicella-zoster virus).
The most promising antiviral substances from sponges appear to be 4methylaaptamine,
avarol, manzamines, mycalamideA and B. Among these substances, preclinical
assessments were started for avarol and manzamineA.

3) Anti-Bacterial Compound:
Antibacterial screening of marine sponges led to identification and characterization of wide
range of active chemical constituents, including some with promising therapeutic leads.
 The first discovered antibiotic from a marine sponge was manoalide, a seterterpenoid
isolated from Luffariella variabilis .
The most promising constituents with antibacterial properties reported from marine
sponges include: agelasine D, cribrostatin 3 and 6, petrosamine B, psammaplin A and
alkylpyridines (haliclonacyclamine E, arenosclerins) and among these constituents,
manzamine A and psammaplin A are in preclinical trials. Many of these have excellent
potential for drug development.

4) Anti-Fungal Compound:
In the last decades, the fungal infection (especially invasive mycoses) dramatically increased
in those individuals suffering from AIDS, immune depressants, hematological
malignancies,and transplant recipients, increased the need of new antifungals.
Fungal infection remains a major direct cause of death for those patients who are treated for
malignant disease. Fungal causing malignant diseases are a major cause of life threatening
diseases as well as resistanceto them is a major problem.
ImmunocompromisedpatientsaremainlyinfectedbyCandida,Aspergillus,Cryptococcus and
other opportunistic fungi. Currently using fungicides are less diversified than
antimicrobial substances and their use is restricted because of biological system toxicity .
Jaspamide is the first example of cyclodepsipeptide 19- membered macrocyclic
depsipeptideisolatedfromthespongesJaspissp hasaselectiveinvitroantifungalactivity with
MIC of 25 mg/ml against C. albicans while in vivo topical activity of a 2% solution
against Candida vaginal infection in mice.
5) Anti-Inflammatory Compounds:
Anti-inflammatory compounds found in the marine environment include terpenes and
steroids, alkaloids, peptides and proteins, polysaccharides and others.
Alsoincludesditerpenes of(8E, 13Z,20Z)-strobilinin and(7E, 13Z,20Z)-felixinin from a
marine sponge Psammocinia sp. and novel anti-inflammatory spongi and it erpenes from
the New Zealand marine sponge Chelonaplysill aviolacea
6) Anti-malarial compound:
In vitro, selective antimalarial activity against Plasmodium falciparum has been recorded
by different isonitrilese, isothiocyanates and terpenoid isocyanates from Cymbastela
hooperi .
Includingthatanumber offreecarboxylicacids (Diacarnuslevii)afteresterificationwere
usedasprecursorstosynthesizesomenewcyclicnorditerpeneperoxides.Theseepidioxy-
substituted norsesterterpenes and norditerpenes endoperoxides from marine sponge
Diacarnus megaspinorhabdosa showed antimalarial activity against both chloroquine-
resistant P. falciparum and chloroquine-sensitive.The most capable and promising
antimalarial compound, manzamines have been isolated from a number of sponges
Manzamine. According to research antimalarial activity of manzamine A is due to
enhancing immune response.

7) Sponge-derived immunosuppressivec ompounds and their efficacy:

 Two important compounds: 4a-merhyl-5a-cholest-8-en-3~-ol and 4,5-dibromo-2-

pyrrolic acid discovered byAmerican scientist from deep water sponge Agelasfla
bellrormiss has a significant immunosuppressive activity. Both compounds were
found significantly active in suppression of the response of murine splenocytes in
the two-way mixed lymphocyte reaction (MLR) with little to no demonstrable
cytotoxicity at low doses.
 Constituents isolated from the Aurora globostellata marine sponge showed
immunomodulatory potential. The immunomodulatory potential was evaluated by
oral administration of ethylacetate extract of marine sponge(200mg/kg)to Wistar
rats and the results obtained showed that extracts exhibited immunosuppressant
activity and can further be studied.
 A recent investigation on an Indian marine sponge aimed to isolate and
characterize bacteria with immunomodulatory and antimicrobialactivity.
Callyspongia
 difusa(GulfofMannarprovince)a marine sponge resulted in isolation of 10 marine
bacterial strains which exhibited remarkable antagonistic activity against clinical
bacterial pathogens. These findings suggested that the sponge associated bacterial
strainVirgibacillussp. can contribute the search for novel antibiotics to overcome
infections and also for the production of potential immunomodulators

8) Sponge–derived Antibiotics:

 Also, over the years marine sponges are considered as a rich source of natural
products and metabolites for antibiotics possessing strong inhibitory against
bacteria, fungi and microbes. Several studies revealed that many natural bioactive
components isolated from various marine sponges can be useful for the production
of new antibiotics and antimicrobial drugs.
 Purpuroines A-J, halogenated alkaloids isolated from Lotrochota purpurea marine
sponge showed promising inhibitory activities against bacteria and fungi related
diseases.
 Haliclona sp. sponge from Korea resulted in isolation of novel cyclic bis-1,3-
dialkylpyridiniums and cyclostellettamines, which showed moderate cytotoxic and
antibacterial activities againstA549 cell-line and Gram-positive strains, respectively.
 A number of new alkaloids were isolated from the marine sponge
Agelasmauritiana: (+)-2-oxo-agela-sidine C, (−)-8′-oxo-agelasine D,4-bromo-N-
(butoxymethyl)- 1Hpyrrole-2-carboxamide, ageloxime B, and (−)-ageloxime D and
some of these isolated components exhibited antifungal activity against
Cryptococcusneoformans, antileishmanial activity in vitro and antibacterial activity
against S. aureus and methicillin-resistant S. aureus in vitro.
 Extracts prepared from the sponge’s species Petromica citrina, Haliclona sp. and
Cinachyrella sp. exhibited antibacterial activity against 61% of the coagulase-
negative staphylococci (CNS) strains, including strains resistant to conventional
antibiotics.
 P. citrina extracts showed the largest spectrum of inhibitory activity. This current
study according scientists how the potential of marine sponges to become
newsources of antibiotics and disinfectants for the control of CNS involved in
bovine mastitisin future.
 Isolation of isonitriles ditepene from Cymbastela hooperi, tropical marine sponge
and the axisonitrile-3 sesquiterpene isolated Acanthella kletra, from the tropical
marine sponge were tested for series of bioassays antibacterial, antiphotosynthetic,
antifouling, antialgal, antifouling, antialgal, antiphotosynthetic, antifungal, and
antitubercular.
 Recently,sponge-derived actinomycetes and sediments isolated from marine
sponge were tested for bioactive constituents with antifungal and
antimicrobialactivity.Out of 15 prepared active extract nine were found active
against Enterococcus fascism (vancomycin-resistant) and Candida albicans
multidrug-resistant, including strains resistant to conventional antibiotics. Thus the
bacterial actinomycetes from marine sponges and other marine organisms have
been proved prolific producers of pharmacologically active compounds. Literature
studies revealed that 70% of naturally derived antibiotics which are currently in clinical
use have been derived from actinomycetes. In the recent study, Streptomyces sp. strains
from Mediterranean sponges and secondary metabolite namely, cyclic depsipeptide
 valinomycin,indolocarbazolealkaloid staurosporineandbutenolide,were screened foranti-
infectiveactivities.AlltheisolatedcompoundsalongwithStreptomycessp. exhibited
antiparasitic activities. Researchers also claim the anti-infective potential of marine
actinomycetes is very promising

9) MUSCLE RELAXANT:
 Continuous muscles activation caused by disturbances in the neuromuscular
communication that result in muscular stress.Muscle relaxants are divided into
two parts;centrally and peripherally active.
 Centrally active can mediate neuromuscular communication while peripherally
relaxants are used for local muscle relaxation like stroke or during surgery.
 Xestospongin C isolated from marine sponge Xestospongia sp is a potent α-
receptor’s IP3(Inositoltriphosphate) inhibitor and Ca2+ (calciumchannel) blocker.
IP3 is a secondary messenger molecule used in signal transduction and it diffuses
throughout the cell and increases the Ca2+ level and resulting cause’s smooth
muscles contraction.
 S1319 isolatedfrom a Dysideasp.(Suzuki et al., 1999) is another substance with a
remarkable muscle relaxing capability.β-Adrenoreceptors are of two types β-1and
β-2.β-1 receptors are available in heart increases heartrate, myocardial
contractility and increases conduction velocity while β-2 receptors are available in
lungs and uterus responsible for dilation of bronchial smooth muscles, dilation of
blood vessels in skeletal smooth muscles and relaxation of uterus muscles.
 S1319 have the uterus relaxing capability which can be therapeutically used at
infant’s delivery time and bronchodilation property which can be used as
antiasthmatic. However, because of their low selectivity, they have some side
effects like activation of β-1 receptors resulting arterial hypertension, tachycardia
and coronary heart disease. Therefore, there is a desired continued research in
interest to find selective β-agonists.
10) ANTI-HELMINTHIC ACTIVITY:
 A new macrocyclic polyketide lactam tetramic acid, geodin A Magnesium salt,
isolated from the marine sponge Geodia sp. exhibited a remarkable nematocidal
activity with (LD99=14 mg/ml) against Haemonchus contortus.
 Two more studies contributed to the search of novel anthelmintic marine sponge
derivedproductsduring2005-6.Twonovelalkaloidalbetaines(-)-echinobetaineA
(1) and (+)-echinobetaine B (2), isolated from marine sponge Echinodictyum sp
proved to be a nematocidal with (LD99=83 and 8.3 μg/ mL, respectively) against
commercial livestock parasite Haemonchus contortus.

11) Marine sponge-derived compounds with enzyme inhibitory activity:

 SARInvestigationsshowedthathalenaquinoneandthreesyntheticanalogs witha
quinone structure significantly inhibited Ca2+ATPase activity.
 Xestoquinone also showed significant protein kinase inhibitory activity toward
Pfnek-1, a serine/threonine malarial kinase, with an IC50 value of ca. 1 mm, and
moderateactivitytowardPfPK5,amemberofthecyclin-dependentkinase(CDK)
family.
 Adociaquinone B and 3-ketoadociaquinone B were the most potent inhibitors of
the Cdc25 B phosphatase inhibitory activities, and the dihydro-benzothiazine
dioxide in compoundsAdociaquinoneA,Adociaquinone B, 3-Ketoadociaquinone
A, and 3-Ketoadociaquinone B appeared to be an important structural feature for
this enhanced activity.
 Four cyclostellettamines, cyclostellettamine A, cyclostellettamine G,
dehydrocyclostellettamine D and dehydrocyclostellettamine E inhibited histone
deacetylase derived from K562 human leukemia cells with IC50 values ranging
from 17 to 80mm.Xestospongic acid ethyl ester was found to inhibit the Na+/K+
ATPase