From Marine Origin to Therapeutics: The Antitumor Potential of Marine Algae-Derived Compounds

Abstract

Marine environment has demonstrated to be an interesting source of compounds with uncommon and unique chemical features on which the molecular modelling and chemical synthesis of new drugs can be based with greater efficacy and specificity for the therapeutics. Cancer is a growing public health threat, and despite the advances in biomedical research and technology, there is an urgent need for the development of new anticancer drugs. In this field, it is estimated that more than 60% of commercially available anticancer drugs are natural biomimetic inspired. Among the marine organisms, algae have been revealed to be one of the major sources of new compounds of marine origin, including those exhibiting antitumour and cytotoxic potential by mediating specific inhibitory activities on a number of key cellular processes, including apoptosis pathways, angiogenesis, migration and invasion processes, in both in vitro and in vivo models, revealing their potential to be used as anti-cancer drugs. This review will focus on the bioactive molecules from algae with antitumour potential, from their origin to their potential uses, with special emphasis to Sphaerococcus coronopifolius algae as a producer of cytotoxic compounds.