Fucoxanthin powder--extracted from marine microalgae has anticancer properties

Several compounds isolated from microalgae, not only can be studied as anticancer compounds but also act in other biotechnological applications. Polyunsaturated aldehydes, dicarbopentanoic acid (EPA), fucoxanthin powder, violaxanthin, stigmasterols, or chloramines may be used as high-value products (e.g., nutraceuticals, cosmetics, additives, fuel precursors, and biomaterials) or as possible new drugs in the future.

For example, polyunsaturated aldehydes have shown antiproliferative activity against Caco-2, A549, and Colo205 cancer cell lines, together with their demonstrated antibacterial activity, making them new drug candidates for drug development. Polyunsaturated fatty acids, EPA, have been extensively studied as a nutritional or dietary supplement and have beneficial effects on fetal development, prevention of cardiovascular disease, and even improvement of cognitive function in patients with Alzheimer's disease; Fucoxanthin powder has been shown to possess potential anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, anti-obesity, anti-diabetic, antineoplastic and cardioprotective activities. In the market, there are several fucoxanthin based products that are used as dietary supplements such as " fucoxanthin special formula Vegetarian Capsules " or " bri nutrient fucoxanthin Capsules "; Phytosterols due to their ability to reduce blood cholesterol concentration, prevent general cardiovascular diseases. Nicotinosterol not only has anticancer activity but also has been studied to prove its antioxidant activity.

These data emphasize that microalgae can be a promising source of anticancer compounds. For other components/extracts obtained from marine microalgae, their potential in clinical or biotechnological aspects cannot be excluded, which requires further studies to prove this possibility.