Comparative Study of Antimicrobial Activity and Cytotoxicity of Saponin Extracted from Six Egyptian Sea-cucumber Species, Licorice, and Ginseng

Abstract

Background: The study aimed to compare the antimicrobial activity and cytotoxicity of saponin extracted from six sea-cucumber species, licorice, and ginseng to determine the most potent one. Methods: Antimicrobial activity assessed by well diffusion and agar dilution methods. The inhibitory effects of the tested extracts on cell growth of Liver (HePG-2) and breast (MCF-7) cell lines assessed by MTT [3- (4, 5- dimethyl thiazol-2yl) - 2, 5- diphenyl tetrazolium bromide] assay. Results: The results revealed that licorice extract presented higher antibacterial activity against Gram-positive bacterial strains than sea-cucumber extracts; but has comparable results for Gram-negative (Salmonella tyhimurium, Klebsiella spp, and Acinetobacter baumanii). Holothuria atra body wall and Bohadschia tubules have the highest antifungal effect against Candida albicans, Candida krusei, Candida famata, Candida glabrata, and Candida tropicalis. Sea-cucumbers are more potent against fungal strains than licorice and ginseng extract. Licorice and ginseng presented higher cytotoxicity against HePG2 and MCF-7 cell lines than sea-cucumbers. Conclusion: This study promotes the use of licorice extract as a better antibacterial substance than sea-cucumber extracts, however the use of sea-cucumber extracts as antifungal agents than herbal extracts. Also, we support the utilization of licorice and ginseng as a cytotoxic agent instead of sea-cucumbers to stop the fishing of animals and consequently save it from extinction.

A comparative study of hemolytic and cytotoxic perspectives of saponin from some Egyptian sea cucumber species

“…The Cuvierian tubules of A. mauritiana and the body wall extracts of H. leucospilota and B. marmorata showed a strong inhibitory effect on the viability of both HePG2 and MCF-7 cell lines [5]. Saponins obtained from H. leucospilota have potent cytotoxic effects on lung cancer cells (A549 cell line) and are time-dependent [19].…”

“…The obtained extracts were stored in the dark at 4° C until use. The purity of the crude extracts was tested on thin-layer chromatography plates, and the spots were seen under UV light and by adding sulfuric acid (10 %) up to the formation of maroondark purple spots [5], indicating the presence of saponin. Ultra Performance Liquid Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry was used previously to identify the metabolic compounds of each extract [16].…”

“…The cell lines were applied to assess the inhibitory effects of sea cucumbers on cell growth using the MTT assay,according to previous studies [5,28].This colorimetrical test is based on changing tetrazolium bromide color from yellow to a purple formazan derivative in viable cells by mitochondrial succinate dehydrogenase. The cell lines were cultured in RPMI-1640 medium with 10% fetal bovine serum.…”

“…They are essential, particularly in several parts of Asia, such as food and traditional drug systems [1,3]. Additionally, they have an exciting outline of distinctive bioactive fractions and the medical potential to display the origin of valuable anticancer and antiproliferative [4,5], antitumor [6,7], antimicrobial [5,8], and antioxidant [2].…”

Effect of an Extract from the Egyptian Sea Cucumber, Bohadschia marmorata, on Methotrexate-Induced Hepatorenal Toxicity in Male Mice

“…The sea cucumber, B. marmorata, is one such species in the Holothuriidae family. Triterpene glycosides (saponins) are the most abundant secondary metabolites in sea cucumber extracts and exhibit a wide range of bioactivity, including antibacterial, antifungal, immunomodulatory and cytotoxic effects (Aminin et al, 2001;Tian et al, 2005;Zou et al, 2005;Eissa et al, 2020). The antioxidant characteristics of coelomic fluids from three species -B. marmorata vitiensis, Stichopus variegatus, and Stichopus badionotus -have been described (Hawa et al, 1999).…”