Publication

Abstract : The surface-active compounds produced by various microorganisms are termed as biosurfactants. These compounds are amphiphilic in nature and come under the class of glycoproteins, lipopeptides, or glycolipids. Biosurfactants are known to exhibit diverse biological functions such as antimicrobial, antifungal, antiviral, antiinflammatory, and anticancer activities. The role of biosurfactants in regulating various cancer progressions has gained more attention, recently. The anticancer potential is credited to the amphiphilic nature of biosurfactants, and various studies have shown that treatment of cancer cells with biosurfactants inhibits growth, arrests cell division, induces apoptosis, and prevents metastasis. This chapter aims to discuss about types and sources of biosurfactants and their anticancer potential against various cancers.