Naphthoquinone pigments from sea urchins: chemistry and pharmacology

Due to their wide distribution, chemical diversity and scientifically confirmed pharmacological properties, sea urchin pigments have evoked renewed interest as a promising source material for the development of drugs that might be useful in clinical practice for the treatment of various human diseases. this review discusses advances in the chemistry, isolation, stability, and pharmacological and clinically proven activities of naphthoquinone pigments from sea urchins, as well as their safety uses. recent decades have also witnessed studies concerning the anti-allergic, antidiabetic, antihypertensive, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, cardioprotective, and hypocholesterolemic potential of pigments. dimeric pigments are believed to be more active and largely responsible for observed pharmacological effects. the summarized data on observed pharmacological activity, coupled with a low toxicity profile, strongly support the view that naphthoquinone pigments could be potentially used in the development of agents possessing therapeutic benefits.