Fucoidan From Brown Algae as a Functional Food Ingredient: A Promising Anticancer Agent

Abstract

Fucoidan is a naturally occurring, sulfated fucose-based polymer found in many types of brown algae. Fucoidan has recently attracted interest in the field of oncology due to its biological and pharmacological features, such as antitumor, anti-proliferation, and anti-inflammatory effects. Fucoidan's attributes are mostly determined by its relative molecular mass and the processes of purification and extraction, which result in structural modifications and can alter outcomes. Several in vivo and in vitro research are being conducted to investigate fucoidan's anticancer potential so that it can be employed as a therapeutic agent; also, decreased toxicity and in vitro impacts of fucoidan make it feasible for cancer therapy. The current review will summarize various aspects of fucoidan including the source and structural activity of fucoidan along with the anticancer relationship of fucoidan on multiple cell lines. In this review, the bioavailability and pharmacological properties are also discussed along with the mechanism of action through which fucoidan inhibits proliferation or induces apoptosis in different tumors, suggesting it is a potential therapeutic agent for combating various tumors.