Seaweeds are high in bioactive chemicals frequently used to treat human illnesses. Porphyran is a polysaccharide found in the red seaweeds of the genus Porphyra. Porphyran has been discovered to have immunomodulatory, anti-inflammatory activity, and anti-cancer effects via boosting immunity and targeting important apoptotic molecules, making them potential chemotherapeutic or chemopreventive drugs. Polysaccharide-mediated dynamic control of apoptosis and autophagy in cancer has been a viable treatment with low cytotoxicity with high efficacy. Thus, comprehending the influence of porphyran on human health and their molecular mechanisms would open up a new paradigm in cancer therapies. Also, the importance of apoptotic/autophagy modulating porphyran in cancer therapy has been highlighted as the future direction of improved nano-formulation for improved clinical efficacy. This review focuses on the current research into porphyran's anti-cancer efficacy and putative mechanisms of action through apoptosis and autophagy in various cancers, as well as its potential chemotherapeutic treatment in near future.
Keywords: Apoptosis; Autophagy; Cancer; Immunomodulation; Porphyran.
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