Marine Species, Metabolites and Macromolecules as Potential Therapeutics Against Obesity and Metabolic Dysfunction Associated Steatotic Liver Disease (MASLD): A Comprehensive Review.

Introduction: Many metabolic diseases, such as Metabolic dysfunction-Associated Steatotic Liver Disease (MASLD), are largely caused by obesity, a complicated ailment characterized by excessive fat buildup. By 2030, obesity is expected to have increased in prevalence, affecting over 1 billion people worldwide. MASLD, formerly known as NAFLD, is a broad category of liver illnesses caused by metabolic dysfunction and frequently linked to obesity. Drugs are available for obesity, but long-term use causes serious adverse effects, as reported. Currently, there are no FDA-approved therapies for MASLD. Interest in marine animals and their metabolites for their potential as therapeutics is growing, given the shortcomings of traditional medicines. This review emphasizes different marine species and metabolites, and macromolecules and tabulates all the pre-clinical studies targeting obesity and MASLD.

Methodology: For this review, the authors have gone through a vast number of article sources from different scientific databases like PubMed, Google Scholar and ScienceDirect.

Results: Algae, fungi, and bacteria found in the ocean are abundant in bioactive chemicals that have anti-obesity and anti-MASLD properties. A variety of studies have reported the anti-obesity and anti-MASLD effects of marine species such as Spirulina platensis, Chlorella vulgaris, Caulerpa okamurae, and bioactive macromolecules like dieckol, fucosterol, fucoxanthin, sodium alginate and paramylon.

Conclusion: These marine-derived substances have a variety of pharmacological characteristics, including lipid-modulating, anti-adipogenic, antioxidant, and anti-inflammatory activities. These qualities are crucial for treating the underlying mechanisms that underlie obesity and MASLD. These marine species may be useful as natural supplements or therapeutic agents in the management and treatment of metabolic diseases associated with obesity. Some of these bioactive phytoconstituents have been identified for their potential against obesity and MASLD; however, more investigation is necessary to identify the precise bioactive substances causing these advantageous effects and assess their safety and effectiveness in clinical trials.