Abstract
Marinobufagenin (MBG) is a member of the bufadienolide family of compounds, which are natural cardiac glycosides found in a variety of animal species, including man, which have different physiological and biochemical functions but have a common action on the inhibition of the adenosine triphosphatase sodium-potassium pump (Na+/K+-ATPase). MBG acts as an endogenous cardiotonic steroid, and in the last decade, its role as a pathogenic factor in various human diseases has emerged. In this paper, we have collated major evidence regarding the biological characteristics and functions of MBG and its implications in human pathology. This review focused on MBG involvement in chronic kidney disease, including end-stage renal disease, cardiovascular diseases, sex and gender medicine, and its actions on the nervous and immune systems. The role of MBG in pathogenesis and the development of a wide range of pathological conditions indicate that this endogenous peptide could be used in the future as a diagnostic biomarker and/or therapeutic target, opening important avenues of scientific research.