This topic describes the anticancer metabolites of the components of marine
shellfish such as crustaceasn (shrimp, lobsters, crayfish, and crabs), marine molluscs
viz. bivalves (clams, oysters, etc), gastropods (snails, slugs, etc.) and cephalopods
(squids, octopuses, and cuttlefish). Among the bioactive compounds of marine
molluscs, the anti-proliferative and cytotoxic compounds accounted for 12 and 36%.
Among echinoderms, the asteroids (starfish), echinoids (sea urchins) and holothuroids
(sea cucumbers) are found to be pharmaceutically important. Among the bioactive
metabolites of echinoderms, the cytotoxic or anti-proliferative metabolites accounted
for 38%.
Keywords: Cephalopod ink, Echinoderms, Marine shellfish, Marine crustaceans, Marine molluscs.