SALINE WATER AS SOURCE OF CANCER DRUGS: ANTI- CANCER METABOLITES FROM MARINE SPONGES

Oceans and its ecosystem comprise an untapped source for many potential drugs. Marine sponges which inhabit mainly in the saline ocean water are considered as one of the oldest form of life. Due to intense concentration of various sponge species and other organisms co- existing in limited extent marine habitats, necessarily makes them highly competitive and complex. Hence most of the sponge species has evolved chemical means to defend against predation. Such chemical adaptations regarded as ‘secondary metabolites’ possess broad-spectrum of biological activity including anti-cancerous agents. In a clinical perspective, cancer still remains as a serious and fatal disease. The various sponge derived bioactive compounds such as alkaloids, diketopiperazine, terpenes, trichoverroids, terpenoids, glycolipids, quinones, prodigiosin derivative, fatty acids and peptides plays remarkable role anti- cancerous activity. Most excitingly some of those compounds are under clinical trial. This review highlights the anti- cancerous activity of marine sponges with special emphasis on various chemical categories, pharmacological products derived from marine sponges and its symbionts as well as the various sponge derived lead compounds and its synthetic analogues currently undergoing clinical evaluation as anti- cancer drugs.