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The Role of Sea Cucumber Active Compound and Its Derivative as an Anti-Cancer Agent

  • Cancer Chemoprevention (R Agarwal, K El Bayoumy and S Yu, Section Editors)
  • Published:
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Abstract

Purpose of Review

This article gives a brief overview on the role of sea cucumber active compounds in cancer cell killing that may be developed into a potent anti-cancer agent.

Recent Findings

The rapid development of knowledge and technology in molecular biology has as yet not succeeded in identifying a safe drug for cancer therapy. The central issue in cancer treatment is the side effects of the cancer medicines and the cancer cell resistance that develop against the drugs. An alternative medication is the use of natural materials as a substance for cancer treatment with fewer side effects. Sea cucumber is an edible marine animal that has been widely used for food and traditional medicine and has not been reported as toxic for humans. Further, we summarized the latest information on the sea cucumber research, its active compound, and its role in the cancer cell killing. The sea cucumber contains active compounds that can potentially be used as an anti-cancer agent that is safe for humans.

Summary

The sea cucumber contains active substances which are toxic to various cancer cells and can therefore function as an anti-cancer agent. Some studies have concluded that the active compounds display anti-metastasis and anti-angiogenesis activity. Moreover, the compounds also work to inhibit cell division and induce apoptosis both in vitro and in vivo. The particular role of sea cucumber as a potential anti-cancer agent has also been described in this review. Indeed, this article presents the latest information and concept of the cancer-killing mechanism of sea cucumber that warrants a significant further investigation into cancer mechanisms to identify a safe drug.

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Acknowledgments

We thank the Ministry of Research, Technology, and Higher Education of the Republic of Indonesia for providing the fund under Postdoctoral Research Scheme in 2017 to finish this study.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Faculty of Medicine, Universitas Kristen Maranatha (Maranatha Christian University), Jl. Prof. Drg. Suria Sumantri MPH No. 65, Bandung, 40164, Indonesia

    Teresa Liliana Wargasetia

  2. Biology Department, Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, Brawijaya University, Jl. Veteran, Malang, 65145, Indonesia

    Sofy Permana &  Widodo

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  1. Teresa Liliana Wargasetia
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  2. Sofy Permana
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Correspondence to Teresa Liliana Wargasetia or Widodo.

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This article does not contain any studies with human or animal subjects performed by any of the authors.

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This article is part of the Topical Collection on Cancer Chemoprevention

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Wargasetia, T.L., Permana, S. & Widodo The Role of Sea Cucumber Active Compound and Its Derivative as an Anti-Cancer Agent. Curr Pharmacol Rep 4, 27–32 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40495-018-0121-x

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