Integrative review of Tedania sponge compounds for cancer and infections

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Frontiers in Medicine Published April 24, 2026 Medically reviewed April 24, 2026 DOI ↗ By Dr. Julia Lee, PhD · Oncology, Genomics & Drug Development

Key Takeaway

Consider that most Tedania sponge metabolites remain unevaluated, limiting clinical inference.

This integrative review examines chemical and biological properties of compounds from marine sponges of the genus Tedania, focusing on potential applications for cancer, inflammatory diseases, and microbial infections. The authors identified 135 compounds, with lipids predominating at 55.55%, followed by alkaloids at 21.48%, carotenoids at 8.15%, and terpenes at 4.44%. Metabolites 20, 21, and 22 were detected in three species.

The review notes that most identified metabolites have not been biologically evaluated for cytotoxic, anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, or larvicidal properties, or for effects on key signaling pathways. Three patents with pharmacological applications were identified.

Key limitations include the lack of biological evaluation for most compounds, which restricts conclusions about therapeutic potential. The authors do not report pooled effect sizes, as this is not a meta-analysis.

Practice relevance is restrained; clinicians should recognize this as an early, exploratory synthesis of chemical data rather than evidence for clinical use. Further experimental and clinical studies are needed to validate any applications.

Study Details

Study typeSystematic review

EvidenceLevel 1

PublishedApr 2026

View Original Abstract ↓

Given current public health concerns and the growing number of individuals affected by cancer, inflammatory diseases, and microbial infections, the identification of natural bioactive metabolites has become crucial as a therapeutic alternative. Marine sponges stand out in this context due to their ability to produce diverse bioactive metabolites. The genus Tedania aligns with this perspective, as literature reports associate it with cytotoxic, anti-inflammatory, and antimicrobial properties. This integrative review aimed to compile studies on the chemical and biological composition of the genus Tedania, correlating molecular structure with biological activity while updating existing knowledge. The databases ScienceDirect, PubMed, LILACS, and Web of Science were searched using the keyword “Tedania”. Inclusion criteria comprised articles reporting the identification or isolation of metabolites and/or biological activities, while duplicate and unrelated articles were excluded. A total of 135 compounds were identified for the genus Tedania, with lipids predominating (55.55%), followed by alkaloids (21.48%), carotenoids (8.15%), and terpenes (4.44%). Metabolites 20, 21, and 22 were detected in three species of the genus. Most of the identified metabolites have not been biologically evaluated; however, alkaloids stood out among those that have been analyzed. Certain substances, fractions, and extracts were tested against various cancer cell lines and pathogenic microorganisms, including assessments of larvicidal activity and key signaling pathways. Regarding the biotechnological potential of the genus Tedania, the literature reports three patents with pharmacological applications. Therefore, sponges of the genus Tedania represent promising sources of bioactive metabolites with antiproliferative, antimicrobial, larvicidal, and anti-inflammatory effects, which warranting further scientific investigation.