A Comprehensive Insight of Mechanisms of Drugs Targeting Ion Channels: Exemplified by Marine Natural Products and Their Analogues

Ion channels represent a significant class of drug targets implicated in the development of various diseases. In recent years, there has been a significant increase in research on the structure and function of ion channels, thereby promoting the study of drug targeting mechanisms involving these channels. The ocean serves as a rich reservoir of lead compounds for drug development, undeniably providing a valuable source for ion channel-targeting drugs. However, various factors contribute to the superficial nature of many studies on drug action mechanisms and there is ongoing confusion surrounding related concepts. This review systematically reviews the mechanisms of action of marine natural products and synthetic derivatives studied from 2000 to 2025, with the goal to establish reference standards relevant to this field of study. Additionally, we systematically review the structure-activity relationship studies and summarize drug optimization strategies in subsequent sections. The primary objective of this review is to promote deeper investigations into drug action mechanisms, providing insights for drug development and fostering the emergence of more precise pharmacological terminology to clarify these complex mechanisms.