Author(s):
Zeenia, Gul-e-Saba Chaudhry, Abdah Md Akim, Yeong Yik Sung, Tengku Sifzizul Tengku Muhammad
Email(s):
gul.saba@umt.edu.my
DOI:
10.52711/0974-360X.2026.00554 
Address:
Zeenia1, Gul-e-Saba Chaudhry1, Abdah Md Akim2, Yeong Yik Sung1, Tengku Sifzizul Tengku Muhammad1
1Institute of Climate Adaptation and Marine Biotechnology, Universiti Malaysia Terengganu, Kuala Terengganu, 21030, Malaysia.
2Department of Biomedical Sciences, Universiti Putra Malaysia, Seri Kembangan, Selangor, Malaysia.
*Corresponding Author
Published In:
Volume - 19,
Issue - 8,
Year - 2026
ABSTRACT:
Cancer remains a leading cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide, necessitating the development of novel therapeutic strategies with improved efficacy and reduced adverse effects. Marine ecosystems represent a rich source of bioactive compounds with significant anticancer potential. This narrative review summarises the cytotoxic and apoptosis-inducing activities of marine extracts and fractions against cancer cell lines. Relevant literature published between 2015 and 2025 was retrieved from PubMed and Google Scholar using predefined search terms related to marine-derived extracts, fractions, cytotoxicity, apoptosis, and cancer. The available evidence shows that extracts and fractions from sea cucumbers, seagrasses, sponges, and starfish exhibit potent antiproliferative activity across multiple cancer cell lines and induce apoptosis through caspase activation, upregulation of pro-apoptotic proteins, downregulation of anti-apoptotic proteins, cell cycle arrest, and inhibition of cellular proliferation. Collectively, these findings position marine-derived extracts and fractions as promising anticancer sources with diverse mechanisms of action. Although preclinical evidence is encouraging, further studies involving bioactive compound isolation, mechanistic validation, pharmacokinetic evaluation, and well-designed in vivo and clinical investigations are needed to facilitate their translation into cancer therapeutics.
Cite this article:
Zeenia, Gul-e-Saba Chaudhry, Abdah Md Akim, Yeong Yik Sung, Tengku Sifzizul Tengku Muhammad. Investigation of Apoptotic Mechanistic Induction in Cancer cells via Natural Inducers: Mini Review. Research Journal of Pharmacy and Technology. 2026;19(8):3949-4. doi: 10.52711/0974-360X.2026.00554
Cite(Electronic):
Zeenia, Gul-e-Saba Chaudhry, Abdah Md Akim, Yeong Yik Sung, Tengku Sifzizul Tengku Muhammad. Investigation of Apoptotic Mechanistic Induction in Cancer cells via Natural Inducers: Mini Review. Research Journal of Pharmacy and Technology. 2026;19(8):3949-4. doi: 10.52711/0974-360X.2026.00554 Available on: https://www.rjptonline.org/AbstractView.aspx?PID=2026-19-8-71
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