Marine Sponges Represent A Fascinating Phylum Of Marine Invertebrates

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Abstract: In the last decades, the marine environment was discovered as a huge reservoir of novel bioactive compounds, useful for medicinal treatments improving human health and well-being. Among several marine organisms exhibiting biotechnological potential, sponges were heightened as one of the most interesting phyla according to toa wide literature describing new molecules every year. Not surprisingly, the first marine drugs applied for medical purposes were isolated from a marine sponge and are now used as anti-cancer and anti-viral agents. In most cases, experimental evidence reported that very often associated and/or symbiotic communities produced these bioactive compounds for mutual benefit. Nowadays, beauty treatments are formulated taking advantage of the beneficial properties exerted by marine novel compounds. In fact, several biological activities suitable for cosmetic treatments were recorded, such as anti-oxidant, anti-aging, skin whitening, and emulsifying activities, among others. Here, we collected and discussed several scientific contributions reporting the cosmeceutical potential of marine sponge symbionts, which were exclusively represented by fungi and bacteria. Bioactive compounds specifically indicated as products of the sponge metabolism were also included. However, the origin of sponge metabolites is dubious, and the role of the associated biota cannot be excluded, considering that the isolation of symbionts represents a hard challenge due to their uncultivable features.

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Keywords: sponges; bacteria; fungi; anti-oxidant;anti-aging; skin whitening; anti-microbial; photo-protection

1. Introduction

Marine sponges represent a fascinating phylum of marine invertebrates, hosting a wide symbiotic community together with a huge production of secondary metabolites [1-7]. The sponge-associated biota may bring together a broad group of phylogenetic lineages, including archaea, bacteria, and fungi [8,9]. The relationships between sponges and their mutualistic symbionts are complex, and the production of bioactive secondary metabolites might have a possible defense role or be involved in the competition for space within benthic habitats[10,11]. On the whole, sponge symbionts were recognized to be responsible for host metabolism and growth, chemical defense,and adaptation to biotic and abiotic stressors[2,12-14].

The discovery of marine bioactive metabolites as potential drugs for the pharmaceutical, nutraceutical, and cosmeceutical industries prompted several research projects relying on the identification of novel chemical moieties with innovative biological functions[15]. what is cistanche Recently, the cosmeceutical field has been fast-growing, since consumers have given greater attention to creams and lotions containing natural compounds with pharmacological properties [16]. Cosmeceuticals are topical products containing some bioactive ingredients that mimic drug-like benefits by enhancing skin health-related function [16,17]. On a global scale, the cosmeceutical industry is gradually shifting to natural compounds for their biocompatible, safe, and eco-friendly properties [18]. The success of cosmeceutical productions primarily depends on safety; low costs; and the ability to maintain the active ingredient, deliver it in a biologically active form, and exert a biological effect through known mechanisms[19]. To overcome these latter issues, particularly related to unsuitable chemical properties, some encapsulation and nano-formulation methods were developed to greatly improve drug delivery and effectiveness [20-25].

Despite cosmeceuticals being historically retrieved from terrestrial plants[26-28], in the last decades, several of them were discovered in marine environments. In fact, the ocean represents a rich source of bioactive ingredients, such as vitamins, minerals, amino acids, proteins, lipids, polysaccharides, terpenoids, polyphenols, pigments, and enzymes, which find several applications in the cosmeceutical field [29]. Marine cosmeceuticals showed a broad range of beneficial activities, such as anti-oxidants, anti-UV, anti-aging, anti-tyrosinase(skin whitening), anti-microbial, wound healing, and emulsifying properties (Figure1)[29-43].

Cistanche can anti-aging

Recently, much attention has been paid to marine anti-oxidants, including cyclosporine and mycosporine-like amino acids (MAAs), carotenoids, and other compounds exhibiting multiple roles within the cosmeceutical field [4,45]. Some examples are pigments (e.g, carotenoids), extremely abundant in the marine environment since they are produced by all autotrophic organisms (e.g, bacteria, archaea, algae, and fungi). Carotenoids include carotenes (e.g, lycopene and α-and β-carotene) and xanthophylls (e.g, astaxanthin, fucoxanthin, and lutein), which showed anti-oxidant activities[46] protecting skin from Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS) that are normally released within the cells after the nat-ural oxidation induced by UV radiation and skin aging[42]. Since synthetic compounds may exert toxic effects on human health and wellness[47], natural anti-oxidants were investigated for their potential use in cosmetics[49]. Anti-microbial and anti-fouling agents that protect against skin disease-related pathogens, such as Staphylococcus epidermis, Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas aeruginous, and Candida albicans, were also described from various sources and considered useful tools for the formulation of cosmetic products and dermatological treatments [39,50-54]. Anti aging cistanche Moreover, bioactive compounds with anti-tyrosinase activity found several applications in the cosmetic industry, since tyrosinase represents a key enzyme involved in melanin biosynthesis, and the block of its enzymatic activity might be used for skin whitening treatments, whose deployment is extremely popular in some countries [55]. Surfactants and emulsifiers, with both hydrophilic and hydrophobic groups, could also be used in the cosmetic field [56,57]. Several protein-polysaccharide complexes, glycolipids, and lipopeptides isolated from marine microorganisms were studied for the production of biosurfactants and emulsifiers [58]. For instance, chitosan, due to its high water-binding capacity, was proposed as a skin moisturizer and delivery agent in cosmeceutical preparations of anti-aging products [59].

Recognized producers of marine cosmeceuticals are cyanobacteria, along with micro-and macro-algae [24,60-63], with several compounds under clinical trials or already approved for the market [64,65]. As mentioned before, sponge-associated microbiota produces a plethora of bioactive compounds with beneficial properties for human health [6]. Despite the great biotechnological relevance, so far, olnly a few studies have reviewed the potential applications of sponge symbiont metabolites in the cosmetic field focusing on specific sponge species[66] or grouping several taxa of marine organisms [29].

In the present review, we analyzed a collection of scientific literature on sponge symbiont-related compounds displaying interesting biological activities in the cosmeceutical field.In particular, we focused on bacteria and fungi, which are extremely abundant within sponge-associated communities. Moreover, we also considered sponge metabolites, whose biological activities were found extremely suitable for cosmeceutical formulations.

2. Sponge Symbionts in Cosmeceutical Field

2.1.Bacteria

A variety of bioactive compounds described from marine bacteria such as polyketides, alkaloids, peptides, proteins, lipids, cyclosporine and MAAs, glycosides, isoprenoids and hybrids, displayed surprising activities, such as photo-protective, anti-aging, anti-microbial, anti-oxidant, and moisturizing activities[58,67]. The interesting capability to produce some UV-absorbing compounds, including scytonemins (exclusively cyanobacte-ria), mycosporines, carotenoids and melanin, was explained through possible evolutionary mechanisms evolved to protect sponges from the harmful effects of UV radiation [68,69].

As reported in the introduction section, carotenoids, such as β-carotene and lycopene, exhibited a photoprotective activity, thus revealing several applications in cosmeceutical fields[70]. Dharmaraj and co-authors[71] investigated the carotenoid extract of a Streptomyces strain(AQBWWS1)associated to the sponge Callyspongia diffusa collected from the west coast of Kerala (India). Its chemical profile revealed the presence of lycopene, suggested as a potential ingredient for the preparation of cosmetic products[71].

A novel diapolycopenedioic acid xylosyl ester A, extracted from the marine sponge-derived bacterium Rubritalea squalenifaciens sp. nov, revealed a potent anti-oxidant ac-tivity in a 'O2 suppression model with half maximal inhibitory concentration (IC50)of 4.1 μg/mL 【72】. cistanche benefícios The alkaloid Diazepinomicin was also isolated from the strain Mi-cromonospora sp. RV115 is associated to the sponge Aplysina aerophoba collected from the Mediterranean Sea. This molecule was able to protect the human kidney (HK-2) and human promyelocytic (HL-60) cell lines from toxicity and genomic damage induced by H2O2[73]. The metabolites isolated from Virgibacillus sp. associated to the sponge C. diffusa (Gulf of Mannar) showed 1,1-Diphenyl-2-Picrylhydrazyl (DPH) radical scavenging activity with ICso of 857.49 ug/mL. In addition, a clear hydroxyl and superoxide free radical scavenging activity was detected (ICso =471.07 ug/mL and 1353.28 ug/mL, respectively), probably correlated to the presence of bioactive compounds such as alkaloids, terpenoids, reducing sugars and anthraquinones, detected by chemical analyses[74]. In similar works, two strains of Vibrio (P1Ma8 and P1Ma5) and several Bacillus sp. isolated from the sponges Phorbas tenacious and Tedania anhelans, respectively, displayed enhanced free radical scaveng-ing activity evaluated by DPPH assay [75,76]. The anti-oxidant properties of a bioactive compound (Pyrrolo[1,2-alpyrazine-1,4-dione, hexahydro-C-HnoN2O2) extracted from a sponge-derived Bacillus sp. (Lakshadweep archipelago in India) was also studied using DPPH assay, nitric oxide (NO) and hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) scavenging activity, and total reducing power. The active compound was capable of scavenging H2O2 in a dose-dependent manner. Moreover, ICso for NO and DPPH inhibition was 41.70 ug/mL and 15.025 μg/mL，respectively 【77】.

Bioactivity screening of one hundred bacterial bionts isolated from several Indian sponges led to the isolation of the GUVFCFM-3 strain, identified as Chromohalobacter israe-lensis. In particular, the methanol extract showed a significant percentage of DPPH(67.83%)and superoxide (65.87%)scavenging activities[78]. DPPH tests and quantification of total phenolic content (TPC) were also used to evaluate the anti-oxidant activity of Pseudomonas sp. extract associated to the marine sponge Hyrtios aff. erections from the Red Sea. In par-ticular, DPPH assay showed a 100% of inhibition at all quantities tested (50,25,12.5 and 6.25mg)[79].Moreover,Vijayan et al.[80]demonstrated that bacteria associated to darkly pigmented sponges (Haliclona pigmentifera, Sigmadocia pumila, Fasciospongia cavernosa, Spon-gia Officinalis and C. diffusa) collected from the Gulf of Mannar in Indian ocean produced non-cytotoxic melanin, with anti-oxidant and photoprotective activities. Among bacterial strains demonstrating high production of melanin, Vibrio alginolyticus, isolated from Hali clona pigmentifera, Sigmadocia pumila and S. officinalis, protected mouse fibroblast cells (L929)from UV-induced intracellular reactive oxygen stress (IC50 =9.0 ug/mL) and exerted no cytotoxicity on L929 cells and brine shrimps [80]. Sponge-derived strains retrieved from Indonesian waters, HAL-08, HAL-13 and HAL-74(Haliclona sp.) as well as PTR-21(Petrosia sp.), were evaluated using the DPPH and ABTS (2,2'-azinobis3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonate)methods. Among the isolates tested, the highest anti-oxidant activity was revealed by the crude extract of HAL-08 with ICso values of 17.10 and 59.39 μg/mL for DPPH and ABTS radicals, respectively. In addition, PTR-21 appeared to be the most potent anti-aging agent tested on the viability of Schizosaccharomyces pombe [81]. The anti-oxidant activity of bacteria PTR-08,PTR-40,PTR-41,and PTR-47,identified as Pseudomonas sp, was also evaluated. PTR-08 extract exhibited the highest anti-oxidant properties with ICsn values of 9.25 and 235.53 ug/mL for DPPH and ABTS radicals, respectively. Interestingly PTR-08 modulated yeast longevity of Schizosaccharomyces pombe promoting the anti-oxidant defence mechanisms correlated with intracellular oxidative stress[82]. The same authors examined the extract of another Indonesian bacteria(Pseudoalteromonas flavipulchra, named STILL-33) associated to the sponge Stylotella sp. Cistanche Extract Anti Radiation STILL-33, which exhibited a high DPPH and ABTS degrading activity with ICso values of7.80 ug/mL (DPPH) and 31.50 ug/mL (ABTS)[83].

Some works, together with the anti-oxidant capabilities, evaluated the growth inhi-bition activity of specific pathogens commonly involved in skin infections. For instance, a chlorinated quinolone, Ageloline A, isolated from Streptomyces sp. SBT345, a bacterial symbiont of the Mediterranean sponge Agelas oroides, was investigated for its radical scav-enging and anti-microbial properties. This compound exhibited anti-oxidant potential on a human leukemic cell line (HL-60) and was further able to reduce oxidative stress and genomic damage induced by 4-nitroquinoline-1-oxide (NQO).Moreover, Ageloline A inhibited the growth of Chlamydia trachomatis in a dose-dependent manner with an ICsn value of 2.14 ug/mL [84]. Anti-microbial activities against E. coli MTCC-1687, P. aeruginosa MTCC-1688,B.subtilis MICC-441 and S.aureus MICC-737 were also observed from a GSA10 strain associated to the sponge Halichondria glabrata(West coast of Mumbai, In-dia).In addition,anti-oxidant properties were detected using DPPH scavenging and Total Radical-trapping Anti-oxidant Parameter(TRAP)assay. In particular, through TRAP assay, the GSA10 acted as peroxyl scavengers,and the percentage of inhibition was proportional to the GSA10 concentrations [85]. In a recent work, the crude methanolic extract and the fractions of Bacillus 2011SOCCUF3 strain isolatted from the sponge S. officinalis(Cortiou and Riou,France) exhibited anti-oxidant and anti-nnicrobial activities. In particular, DPPH assay showed a dose-dependent scavenging activity, with a percentage inhibition of 38.9-49.1%(10-50 mg/mL), and agar-well diffusion method revealed a high inhibitory effect against C.albicans at a concentration range of 2.5-20mg/mL[86].

Anti-aging and skin whitening properties from the crude extracts of bacterial sym-bionts from Scopalina hapalia (South-east coasts of Mayotte) were evaluated on several targets, including elastase, tyrosinase, catalase,sirtuin 1 (Sirt1), cyclin-dependent kinase 7 (CDK7), fyn kinase, and proteasome[66]. In particular, the isolate SH-82(Micromonospora fluostatini) exhibited sufficient inhibition of elastase activity, whereas SH-89 exerted sig-nificant anti-melanogenic properties by tyrosinase inhibition (58.33%). The most potent activators of Sirtl activity were shown by SH-82 and SH-100 (Bacillus licheniformis) ex-tracts. Moreover, four Bacillus strains and three extracts of Salinispora arenicola exhibited appreciable anti-oxidant and CDK7 inhibitory activities,respectively. Surprising results were reported from S. cistanche herba arenicola (SH-78-EA-SM) and B.licheniformis (SH-04-EA-SM),inhibit ing Fyn activity at the three concentrations tested (0.033,0.0033 and 0.00033 ug/mL).In contrast, the crude extracts of SH-45, SH-54, SH-78, and SH-99 exhibited a slight activity detected only at the highest concentration (0.033 ug/mL). On the whole, the authors have proposed these sponge-derived bacteria as suitable sources of new skin whitening and anti-aging agents [66].

As mentioned above(see the introduction section),microbial biosurfactants displayed suitable properties for skincare formulations[57]. For instance, Dhasayan et al.[87]evalu-ated the moisturizing features of several strains isolated from the Indian sponge C. diffusa. In particular, the MB-30 (Halomonas sp.) and MB-D9(Alcaligenes sp.) exhibited the highest emulsification activity after 48 h of incubatioln, whereas MB-7 (Bacillus subtilis) and MB-101 (Bacillus amyloliquefaciens) isolates showed the same properties after 72 h of incubation, suggesting that the bioactive compounds are probably secreted during the stationary phase of growth [87]. Moreover, in a recent work, a bacterial strain (Bacillus niabensis, My-30)associated to the sponge Mycale ramulosa(Gulf of California)showed a clear activity in the collapsing drop test and emulsification properties with high stability for 24 h, compared to the control (Sodium Dodecyl Sulfate, SDS).Moreover, supernats of My-30 demonstrated a promising antifouling activity, with Minimum Inhibitory Concentration (MIC) values of 1-2%(v/v),against Bacillus subtilis,Micrococus sp., and Sagittula stellata [88].

This article is extracted from Mar. Drugs 2021, 19, 444. https://doi.org/10.3390/md19080444 https://www.mdpi.com/journal/marinedrugs