Halophyte Plants as Potential Sources of Anticancer Agents: A Comprehensive Review

Abstract

Salt-tolerant plants (halophytes) are widely distributed worldwide in several environments such as coastal salt marshes, sand dunes, and inland deserts. To cope with the harsh conditions that characterize those habitats, which include high salinity and radiation levels, such plants have developed morphological and physiological traits, the latter including the synthesis and accumulation of important secondary metabolites such as alkaloids and polyphenols. While essential in maintaining plant homeostasis, these compounds are highly valued in the medical field for the treatment of several human diseases, including cancer. Cancer is one of the most life-threatening disorders worldwide, which accentuates the need to improve current cancer therapies and minimize potential adverse secondary side-effects. In this context, the pharmacological evaluation of natural compounds has attracted growing interest since nature has already provided some important anti-cancer drugs. This review compiles, for the first time, research regarding the anticancer activity of halophytes from different families, including, whenever possible, the bioactive molecules involved in such therapeutical properties along with possible mechanisms of action. The introduction section provides some pertinent information regarding cancer and a summary of the most important characteristics of halophytes. The next section gives information regarding the in vitro and in vivo cytotoxic properties of several halophyte species, grouped by families, including contents in bioactive metabolites and proposed modes of action, if possible. Lastly, the conclusion presents the most relevant metabolites and/or promising species and extracts that could be further explored in anticancer drug research.

Bioactive Extracts from Salicornia ramosissima J. Woods Biorefinery as a Source of Ingredients for High-Value Industries

“…These metabolites have reported health-beneficial properties, including antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anti-diabetic activities [ 7 , 15 , 17 , 18 , 19 ]. Intake of these compounds can prevent the onset of different diseases, such as cancer, hypertension, and cardiovascular diseases [ 3 , 4 , 20 ]. Moreover, studies suggest that S. ramosissima extracts exhibit photoprotective effects against UV radiation [ 4 , 21 ] and protective effects against testicular toxicity [ 22 ].…”

Soilless Cultivated Halophyte Plants: Volatile, Nutritional, Phytochemical, and Biological Differences

“…In the halophytes, the tentatively identified phenolic compounds were classified into different classes of phenolic acids (hydroxycinnamic and hydroxybenzoic acids), flavonoids (flavones, flavanals, flavonols, and flavanones), and hydrolysable tannins (gallotannins). These compounds exert potential antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anti-carcinogenic [ 70 , 71 ], anti-microbial [ 72 ], and inhibitory activity in key enzymes associated with, neurodegenerative diseases, e.g., Alzheimer’s disease (e.g., acetylcholinesterase, AChE and butyrylcolinesterase, and BuChE), diabetes mellitus type 2 (α-amylase and α-glucosidase), and skin hyperpigmentation/food oxidation (tyrosinase) [ 73 ]. The qualitative and quantitative abundance of phenolic compounds in the halophytes is dependent on several factors, such as the environmental growth conditions and the analyzed species.…”

Phytochemical Screening and Anticancer Activities of Some Terrestrial and Aquatic Plants Growing in Saline Habitats.

“…(Greenwell and Rahman 2015). (Custodio et al ., 2022) studied the anticancer activity of halophytes from different families, including, whenever possible, the bioactive molecules involved in such therapeutically properties along with possible mechanisms of action.…”