Anticancer compounds from marine macroalgae and their application as medicinal foods

Abstract

Cancer is one of the most challenging medical conditions that need a proper therapeutic approach for its proper management with fewer side effects. Until now, many of the phytochemicals from terrestrial origin have been assessed for their anticancer ability and few of them are in clinical trials too. However, marine environment also has been a greatest resource that harbors taxonomically diverse and a variety of life forms and serves as store house for several biologically beneficial metabolites. Hitherto, many metabolites have been isolated from marine biomasses that have exhibited excellent biological activities, especially as anticancer agents. In particular, marine macroalgae which are considered as dietary constituents in Pacific Asian region have become chief resources for their unparalleled and unique metabolites like sulfated polysaccharides (SPs), phlorotannins, and their ability in reducing the risk of cancer and its related diseases. In this chapter, we have discussed the anticancer activities of marine algae-derived SPs, phlorotannins, and carotenoids and the possibilities of marine algae as potential medicinal foods in the management of cancer.