Probing the Anti-Cancer Potency of Sulfated Galactans on Cholangiocarcinoma Cells Using Synchrotron FTIR Microspectroscopy, Molecular Docking, and In Vitro Studies

Sulfated Galactans from Agarophytes: Review of Extraction Methods, Structural Features, and Biological Activities

Agarophytes are important seaweeds of the Rhodophyta type, which have been highly exploited for industrial use as sources of a widely consumed polysaccharide of agar. In addition to that, sulfated galactans (SGs) from agarophytes, which consist of various functional sulfate groups, have attracted the attention of scientists in current studies. SGs possess various biological activities, such as anti-tumor, anticoagulant, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, anti-obesity, anti-diabetic, anti-microbial, anti-diarrhea, and gut microbiota regulation properties. Meanwhile, the taxonomy, ecological factors, i.e., environmental factors, and harvest period, as well as preparation methods, i.e., the pretreatment, extraction, and purification conditions, have been found to influence the chemical compositions and fine structures of SGs, which have, further, been shown to have an impact on their biological activities. However, the gaps in the knowledge of the properties of SGs due to the above complex factors have hindered their industrial application. The aim of this paper is to collect and systematically review the scientific evidence about SGs and, thus, to pave the way for broader and otherwise valuable industrial applications of agarophytes for human enterprise. In the future, this harvested biomass could be sustainably used not only as a source of agar production but also as natural materials in functional food and pharmaceutical industries.

Marine Migrastatics: A Comprehensive 2022 Update

Metastasis is responsible for the bad prognosis in cancer patients. Advances in research on metastasis prevention focus attention on the molecular mechanisms underlying cancer cell motility and invasion to improve therapies for long-term survival in cancer patients. The so-called “migrastatics” could help block cancer cell invasion and lead to the rapid development of antimetastatic therapies, improving conventional cancer therapies. In the relentless search for migrastatics, the marine environment represents an important source of natural compounds due to its enormous biodiversity. Thus, this review is a selection of scientific research that has pointed out in a broad spectrum of in vitro and in vivo models the anti-cancer power of marine-derived products against cancer cell migration and invasion over the past five years. Overall, this review might provide a useful up-to-date guide about marine-derived compounds with potential interest for pharmaceutical and scientific research on antimetastatic drug endpoints.