The chemical structures and biological activities of marine terpenoids: a review and perspective from cheminformatics

Marine terpenoids are a structurally diverse class of natural products produced by marine organisms, characterized by unique molecular architectures and notable biological activities. They play essential roles in ecological interactions and chemical defense, while also exhibiting promising therapeutic properties, including anti-inflammatory and anti-tumor effects. In this review, we compile 13 132 reported marine terpenoids, of which 2066 have documented biological activities, and provide a concise summary of their organismal origins, molecular scaffolds, and associated activities. Cheminformatics approaches are further applied to compare the chemical space of marine versus terrestrial terpenoids, highlighting their structural distinctiveness. Finally, we discuss promising directions for the discovery, utilization, and synthesis of marine terpenoids, with the goal of promoting comprehensive and sustainable exploration of these valuable marine resources.