Anticancer Properties of Caulerpa racemosa: A Review Study

ABSTRACT

Introduction: Cancer is the leading cause of death in theworld, with approximately 10 million deaths expected by2020. Several approaches are used in cancer management.However, the cost is one of the main obstacles in cancer therapy as well as side effects in sufferers. Caulerpa racemosa is a type of seaweed that is naturally abundant in theIndonesian sea. Recently, there has been much research onthe anticancer effects of Caulerpa sp. This study aims to findthe potency of Sea grapes extract (Caulerpa racemosa) in thetreatment of cancer and its mechanisms.Method: A review of the literature was constructed on thepotential of the C. racemosa extract with the PICOS criteriaand the data were extracted from ‘PUBMED’, ‘ScienceDirect’and ‘SpringerLink’. The search method was using a booleanoperator with the main keywords ‘Caulerpa racemosa’, ‘cancer’, and ‘Management’.Results: The main results were 8 articles including in vitroand in vivo experimental studies based on inclusion criteria.Several studies (n=8) revealed the potency of C. racemosaextract as an anticancer agent through various activities, suchas antiproliferative, apoptotic, antioxidant, cytotoxic activity,and inhibition of tumor progression genes, DNMT, and upregulation of proapoptotic genes, including BAX, P53, Caspase-3, Caspase-8, and Caspase-9.Discussion: C. racemosa possesses several potent antioxidant substances, along with gene regulation activities and in hibition of cell line proliferation. Seaweeds has been usedwidely as functional food and showed minimal or no toxicitiesagainst human. With all these benefits, C. racemosa has thepotential to be commercialized as a promising diet for cancerpatients.Conclusion: Sea grapes extract (C. racemosa) has goodpotential as an anticancer agent through antiproliferationmechanisms, induction of apoptosis, cytotoxic and antioxidantactivity.(AU)