Abstract

Polar regions are remote and challenging areas on the earth. In view of the unique environment and the severe competition in polar regions, it’s considered that the ecological system might be the producer of new compounds with diversity biological activities. This review is an attempt to consolidate the studies about 97 natural products isolated from Antarctic and Arctic organisms including microbes, algae, sponges, bryozoans, and tunicates and so on published in the recent years. The emphasis is mainly about the new compounds, source organisms and biological activities, which signifies the immense competence of Antarctic and Arctic organisms as bioactive natural products producers.

Keywords: Antibacterium, bioactivity, cytotoxicity, natural products, polar organisms, secondary metabolites, marine life, Candida albicans