Marine environment: A potential source for anticancer drugs

Abstract

Marine environment is known for its rich and vast diversity of flora and fauna. It acts as a potential source for a variety of drugs that can cure wide range of diseases like cancer, diabetes. In this article, we have emphasized on the different types of anticancer drugs obtained from the marine biome. The drugs have been tabulated on the basis of their source. Though most of the drugs are being isolated from marine animals, marine microbes and plants also have the capacity to produce metabolites that possess anticancer activities. This review throws light on some of the anticancer drugs isolated from marine microbes, animals and plants as well. When compared to other natural environments, marine environment tops the list by giving most of the drugs to the medical field. The marine environment has become an extraordinary source for extracting anti-cancer drugs. All these drugs have enough potential to be analyzed for their anti-cancer capabilities. This article highlights all the major marine mined drugs which are being used in treating cancer. Few of these drugs are into existence but few are still under clinical trials. Lots of research needs to be put into this field so as to obtain effective anticancer drugs.