In vitro cytotoxic and antiproliferative activities of marine macroalgae from Yucatán, Mexico

Abstract

Extracts from 27 marine algal species (14 Rhodophyta, 5 Phaeophyta, and 8 Chlorophyta) from the Yucatán Peninsula (Mexico) were evaluated for cytotoxic and antiproliferative activity by 3(4,5-dimethylthiazole-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) and sulforhodamine B (SRB) assays, respectively. To determine the specificity of cytotoxic activity against tumor cells, the selective index (SI) was also calculated. The following cancer cell lines were employed: normal canine kidney (MDCK) cells, human laryngeal carcinoma (Hep-2) cells, human cervical adenocarcinoma (HeLa) cells, and human nasopharyngeal carcinoma (KB) cells. The results indicated that 44% and 51% of the algal species tested showed cytotoxic and antiproliferative activity, respectively. Most of the cytotoxic extracts were from species of Chlorophyta, with Udotea flabellum and U. conglutinate showing the highest cytotoxic activity against all the cancer cell lines. For Rhodophyta, the Bryothamnion triquetrum extract showed outstanding selective cytotoxicity against Hep-2 cells (CC 50 8.29 µg mL-1 , SI = 12.04). Two of the five species of Phaeophyta tested (Lobophora variegata and Dictyota caribaea) showed high cytotoxicity activity against the KB cell line. The data show that these species are a potential source of compounds for the treatment of certain cancer diseases.

Phytochemical screening and antiviral activity of Marrubium vulgare

“…Sydiskis et al (1991) demonstrated that the anthraquinones acted directly on the envelope of HSV-1, resulting in the prevention of virus adsorption and subsequent replication. Table 2 shows the CC50 values of the crude extract and the fractions towards Vero with the value of more than 20 µg/mL indicating that the samples were non cytotoxic (Moo-Puc et al, 2009;Chandrashekar et al, 2011). Thus, the antiviral activity is now worth to be demonstrated for the potential as antiviral agents.…”

Comparative Antioxidant, Antiproliferative and Apoptotic Effects of <i>Ilex laurina</i> and <i>Ilex paraguariensis</i> on Colon Cancer Cells

“…The formazan crystals were dissolved by using acidified isopropanol (0.4 N HCl). The amount of MTT-formazan is proportional to the number of living cells and was measured at 540 nm and at 750 nm [13]. The concentration of infusions that caused 50 % of growth inhibition (IC50) was calculated using GraphPad Prism 5.0 (GraphPad Software Inc., San Diego, CA).…”

“…Dulbeccoʼs modified Eagleʼs medium (DMEM) 3% supplemented horse serum was replaced every 48 h with different concentrations of infusions. Cell culture was stopped by addition of trichloroacetic acid (50 % v/v) at 4 °C for 1 h, and cell proteins were stained with 0.4 % (w/v) SRB, absorbance at 490 nm is proportional to the number of adherent and live cells [13].…”

Improved Antitumoral Activity of Extracts Derived from Cultured <i>Penicillus dumetosus</i>

“…Recent studies have shown that both aqueous and organic extracts of Penicillus dumetosus exhibit in vitro antiprotozoal [5,6], as well as cytotoxic and antiproliferative activities on cancer cell lines [7]. In some cases, the antiproliferative activity of marine alga extracts has been positively correlated with the total polyphenol content suggesting a causal link related to extract content of polyphenols and phenolic acids [8], while other authors have reported a variety of fatty acids and derivatives with antiproliferative effects in different cancer cell models [9].…”