Bioactive Pigments in Marine Organisms

Marine organisms produce a rich array of pigments that serve ecological functions such as photoprotection, camouflage and chemical defence, while also exhibiting significant bioactivity of interest to human health and industry. Among these, carotenoids derived from microalgae and crustaceans, chlorophyll derivatives from seaweeds and phycobilins from cyanobacteria have demonstrated antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial activities. A particularly versatile class comprises polyhydroxynaphthoquinones, including spinochromes and echinochrome A, extracted predominantly from sea urchins. These quinonoid pigments act as potent scavengers of reactive oxygen species and modulate cellular pathways involved in inflammation and tissue repair. Advances in sustainable sourcing and biotechnological production are increasingly enabling the translation of these compounds into pharmaceuticals, nutraceuticals and cosmeceuticals. The integration of circular-economy principles, whereby seafood by-products are valorised into high-value pigments, underpins a growing emphasis on eco-friendly extraction and green chemistry. Collectively, research on marine bioactive pigments is expanding our understanding of marine ecology, while driving novel applications in wound healing, cardioprotection, antiviral therapy and immune modulation.

Research from Nature Portfolio

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Bioactive Pigments in Marine Organisms publication trend

The graph below shows the total number of articles in bioactive pigments in marine organisms across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).

Technical terms

Polyhydroxynaphthoquinones (PHNQs): A class of marine-derived quinonoid pigments, including spinochromes and echinochrome A, characterised by multiple hydroxyl groups and potent antioxidant properties.

Spinochromes: Specific polyhydroxynaphthoquinone pigments found in sea urchins, noted for free-radical scavenging, antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory activities.

Echinochrome A: The most abundant spinochrome pigment, utilised clinically for cardioprotection and ophthalmic therapy, with mechanisms involving oxidative-stress modulation and metal-ion chelation.

Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS): Highly reactive molecules derived from oxygen that can damage cellular components; scavenging of ROS underlies many antioxidant activities of marine pigments.

Circular Economy: An approach promoting resource efficiency by converting waste or by-products into valuable materials, key to sustainable pigment extraction from seafood industry residues.

References

1. A Second Life for Seafood Waste: Therapeutical Promises of Polyhydroxynapthoquinones Extracted from Sea Urchin by-Products. Antioxidants (2023).
2. Sea Urchin Food Waste into Bioactives: Collagen and Polyhydroxynaphtoquinones from P. lividus and S. granularis. Marine Drugs (2024).
3. Multi‐omic analysis reveals genes and proteins integral to bioactivity of Echinochrome A isolated from the waste stream of the sea urchin industry in Aotearoa New Zealand. Food Science & Nutrition (2024).