Bioactive compounds profile of gorgonian corals and their pharmacological activities: A review

Abstract

Soft corals and gorgonians live in an extreme and competitive area, giving them the ability to survive by utilizing chemical defense systems in the form of secondary metabolites. These secondary metabolites with various types can be used to develop a new drug substance. This review article summarizes the types of gorgonian corals, secondary metabolites' content, and pharmacological activities. It certainly provides the latest insights about the source of medicinal ingredients from the marine. Types of gorgonian corals include Junceella fragilis, Heteroxenia fuscescens, Briareum violaceum, Briareum excavatum, Echinomuricea sp., Rumphella antipathies, Pseudopterogorgia acerosa, Eunicella singularis, Pseudopterogorgia elisabethae, Rumphella sp., Verrucella corona, Pseudopterogorgia americana, Pinnigorgia sp., Subergorgia suberosa, Subergorgia rubra, Dendronephthya griffini, and Paramuricea clavata. All gorgonian corals contain terpenoids, steroids, and alkaloids (rare) with activities as an anti-inflammatory, anti-cancer, analgesic, gastroprotective, anti-viral, anti-bacterial, and anti-fouling agents. That is due to the structural relationship to the activity, which includes the stereochemical influence of the hydroxy group, the presence of an epoxide group, a methoxy group, the configuration of the methylenecychlohexane ring, and changes in the side chain on the carbonyl group.