ABSTRACT
This chapter deals with involvement of microalgae as anti-cancerous and anti-inflammatory agent. Polyphenols have been proved to be a good antioxidant, anti-viral, anti-inflammatory and anti-cancerous compound. Algae in general and microalgae in particular contain a variety of polyphenols such as phenolic acid, flavonoids, tannin, lignin, catechin, epicatechin and gallic acid, etc. Green algae are the second major species that have proved to be a major source of antioxidant and anti-inflammatory agents. Major pigments like carotenoids, chlorophylls and phycocyanins found in microalgae are quite important for their anti-cancerous properties. Phycocyanin pigments are the common pigment found in blue-green algae. Dimethylsulfoniopropionate is mostly found in green algae, responsible for anti-cancer activity in mice. Similarly, polysaccharide present in the hot water extract of Capsosiphon fulvescens is capable of inducing the apoptosis of gastric cancer cells. Various types of novel bioactive compounds, with respect to cancer and inflammatory disease are discovered from microalgae.
