Marine algae‐derived characterized bioactive compounds as therapy for cancer: A review on their classification, mechanism of action, and future perspectives

Abstract

In 2022, there were around 20 million new cases and over 9.7 million cancer‐related deaths worldwide. An increasing number of metabolites with anticancer activity in algae had been isolated and identified, which were promising candidates for cancer therapy. Red algae are well‐known for the production of brominated metabolites, including terpenoids and phenols, which have the capacity to induce cell toxicity. Some non‐toxic biological macromolecules, including polysaccharides, are distinct secondary metabolites found in many algae, particularly green algae. They possess anticancer activities by inhibiting tumor angiogenesis, stimulating the immune response, and inducing apoptosis. However, the structure–activity relationship between these components and antitumor activity, as well as certain taxa within the algae, remains relatively unstudied. This work is based on the reports published from 2003 to 2024 in PubMed and ISI Web of Science databases. A comprehensive review of the characterized algal anticancer active compounds, together with their structure and mechanism of action was performed. Also, their structure–activity relationship was preliminarily summarized to better assess their potential properties as a natural, safe bioactive product to be used as an alternative for the treatment of cancers, leading to new opportunities for drug discovery.