Photosynthetic marine organisms as a source of anticancer compounds

Abstract

Since early human history, plants have served as the most important source of medicinal natural products, and even in the ''synthetic age'' the majority of lead compounds for pharmaceutical development remain of plant origin. In the marine realm, algae and seagrasses were amongst the first organisms investigated by marine natural products scientists on their quest for novel pharmaceutical compounds. Forty years after the pioneering work in the field of marine drug discovery began, the biodiversity of marine organisms investigated as potential sources of anticancer, anti-inflammatory, and antibiotic compounds has increased tremendously. Nonetheless, marine plants are still an important source of novel secondary metabolites with interesting biomedical properties. The present review focuses on the antitumour properties of compounds isolated from marine algae, phytoplankton, mangroves, seagrasses, or cordgrasses. Compounds produced by marine epi-or endophytic fungi are also discussed.

Marine natural products: chemical and biological potential of seaweeds and their endophytic fungi

“…Besides the complex diterpenoids synthesized by brown algae, volatile compounds, fucoidans, phlorotannins and fucoxanthins exhibiting antioxidant, antibiotic, antifungal, antiviral, or anti-cancer activities have been reported (Folmer et al, 2010).…”

“…Kahalide F was initially obtained from the herbivorous sea slug Elysia rufescens; however, it is assumed that the genuine source of this compound is the chlorophyta Bryopsis sp., which is the main element of the sea slug's diet (Folmer et al, 2010). Kahalide F (35), developed by the Spanish biopharmaceutical company PharmaMar, is a novel antitumor drug candidate currently in phase II clinical trials and causes oncosis in cancer cells by lysosomal induction and cell membrane permeabilization (Folmer et al, 2010 (Folmer et al, 2010). Recently, a new sterol, 24-R-stigmasta-4,25-diene-3β,6β-diol (38), among another known compounds, was isolated from Codium divaricatum Holmes, a traditional Chinese medicine used as an anticancer agent since the remote past (He et al, 2010 …”

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“…Microalgae, being microscopic, diverse and having evolved their own defense mechanisms by synthesizing secondary metabolite, which are explored in anticancer studies 20,21 . 22 .…”

Algas e micro-organismos marinhos como fonte de substâncias bioativas: química e biologia de Bostrychia radicans e fungos endofíticos associados

“…Atualmente, a ciência é capaz de responder questões acerca da capacidade biossintética dos organismos marinhos, do papel sintético da microbiota na química de produtos naturais de invertebrados marinhos e da bioengenharia de fármacos marinhos (LANE & MOORE, 2011;GERWICK & MOORE, 2012 FOLMER et al, 2010). Sendo assim, as algas, além de espécies denominadas de forma genérica como "gramas marinhas", estão entre os primeiros organismos marinhos a serem investigados por químicos de produtos naturais, na procura por substâncias bioativas com potencial para o desenvolvimento de novos fármacos (FENICAL & PAUL, 1984;FOLMER et al, 2010 A evolução de algas marinhas neste ambiente de intenso estresse biótico e abiótico resultou na biossíntese de substâncias que apresentam uma alta diversidade química estrutural, além de importantes funções ecológicas. Diversos metabólitos são conhecidos pela capacidade de inibir a herbivoria, outros possuem função reprodutiva ou mesmo de proteção contra a radiação ultravioleta.…”

“…As macroalgas estão taxonomicamente organizadas em três divisões: Chlorophyta (algas verdes, 13% marinhas), Phaeophyta (algas pardas, 99% marinhas) e Rhodophyta (algas vermelhas, 98% marinhas) (McCLINTOCK & BAKER, 2001 (FOLMER et al, 2010). Desenvolvida pela indústria farmacêutica PharmaMar, esta substância alcançou a fase clínica II de desenvolvimento, após haver apresentado atividade antitumoral significativa e um bom índice terapêutico (JANMAAT et al, 2005).…”