What is a terpenoid?

Terpenoids are a group of compounds found abundantly in nature. They are closely related to another group of compounds called terpenes. You will probably already be familiar with terpenoids, without even realising it. They are all around us! Menthol is a terpenoid found in peppermint. Many essential oils, such as lavender and tea tree, contain many terpenoids. 

Terpenes and terpenoids have a characteristic chemical unit as part of their structure - called the isoprene unit. Isoprene consists of 5 carbon atoms and 8 hydrogen atoms, arranged in a specific way. Isoprene is said to be the characteristic building block of terpenes and by extension, of terpenoids. Terpenoids are generally regarded as modified terpenes, having extra chemical groups containing oxygen. Both terpenes and terpenoids are classified according to the number of isoprene units in their structures. 

What does "bioprospecting" mean? 

Although bioprospecting has been defined in different ways over the years, it is generally understood to be the exploration of natural resources for useful products. This has generally been with the view of achieving commercial gain and/or benefits for human society. 

It should be noted that bioprospecting is different from biopiracy, which is related to an inappropriate use of indigenous knowledge of natural resources. Biopiracy occurs when such knowledge is put to commercial use without consent of the people who actually had the knowledge. (1)

1. Nambisan, P., 2017. Chapter 16 - Protection of Traditional Knowledge Associated with Genetic Resources, in: An Introduction to Ethical, Safety and Intellectual Property Rights Issues in Biotechnology. Elsevier, pp. 345–356. https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-12-809231-6.00016-8 

What does the "blue bioeconomy" mean?

Firstly - the blue in blue bioeconomy simply refers to the oceans and seas! 

Bioeconomy means the use of biological resources for human products and services. This may be the production of food, materials and energy. 

This is different from bioprospecting but the two terms are connected. While bioprospecting refers to the exploration and research into natural resources for potential uses, the bioeconomy means the active use of these resources for the production and consumption of goods and services. Bioprospecting is therefore more explorative and searches for new knowledge, whereas the application of this knowledge can contribute to the bioeconomy. 

In the recent past, global economies have been linked to non-renewable resources and practices, which has unfortunately made them unsustainable in many ways. Using renewable resources will help us to move forward as a society and live in more sustainable and efficient ways. This doesn't just mean we need to change the resources we use, but also how we use them. See the link below for information from the European Union on the importance of developing the blue bioeconomy and how this will help us to transition to a circular economy. 

Why is the marine environment worth exploring?

Water covers around 71% of the earth's surface (2). That leaves a lot to explore!

The earth's oceans are home to a diverse range of organisms, some of which are beyond our imagination. In the search for natural products, terrestrial environments (i.e. the land) have been explored extensively. The vastness and diversity of the marine world calls for further exploration. Some natural products have been sourced from marine organisms and show great potential, for example in the treatment of cancer. This gives us confidence that new marine natural products could be beneficial to human society. 

In today's world, the oceans are undergoing big changes, many of which are unfortunately caused by harmful human activities. Research into the marine world can tell us more about what is happening in this environment and how the organisms there are affected. It can also provide more evidence on why it needs to be protected. It has been suggested that Earth has began a new geological period of rapid and deep change (1), meaning that the time for action is now. 

2. Mladenov, P.V., 2020. Marine biology: A Very Short Introduction, 2nd edition. ed, Very short introductions. Oxford University Press, Oxford.

Why search for new drugs? Are there not enough on the market already?

Although many drugs are indeed available already, there are treatment areas in which we are facing significant challenges. For example, antibiotic resistance is a growing concern for humans as more infections are becoming resistant to our existing treatments. Cancer is now a common disease which proves highly defensive to treatment. 

Not only this, but even effective treatments have their limits. For natural products especially, the supply of a drug compound is not always enough to meet the demand. Even currently available treatments may not be sustainable in long-term, for environmental or cost reasons. It is important not to be over-reliant on a narrow range of treatments and to continue the search for suitable, more sustainable alternatives.