Title:Red Seaweed-derived Compounds: A Desired Approach for Treating Cancer
Volume: 29
Issue: 22
Author(s): Shweta Katiyar, Xing-Hai Jin*Dhananjay Yadav*
Affiliation:
- Department of Pharmacology, Asan Medical Center, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, 88, Olympic-ro 43-gil, Songpa-gu, Seoul, Republic of Korea
- Department of Life Sciences,
Yeungnam University, Daegu, South Korea
Keywords:
Cancer, marine algae, red algae, bioactive compounds, lipids, inflammatory.
Abstract: Cancer is a collection of diseases in which aberrant cells grow uncontrolled and invade surrounding
tissues. Cancer can be classified as carcinoma, sarcoma, leukemia, or lymphoma. The deadliest cancers are
lung, breast, colorectal, pancreatic, and prostate. Chemotherapy, surgery, and radiotherapy are the usual cancer
treatments. However, drug resistance poses a significant barrier to cancer treatment. Macroalgae are wellknown
producers of bioactive compounds with antimicrobial, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anti-cancer
properties. Red algae, in particular, are a prominent source of bioactive substances, such as polysaccharides,
phenolic compounds, lipids, sterols, alkaloids, and terpenoids. Therefore, molecules from marine resources
could be an appealing way to identify new cancer treatment alternatives. This study aimed to provide a brief
overview of what is currently known regarding the potential of red macroalgae in cancer treatment by discussing
the primary therapeutic targets of the disease and identifying compounds or extracts with bioactive characteristics
against them.