Metabolomic Profiling, In Vitro Antioxidant and Cytotoxicity Properties of Caulerpa racemosa : Functional Food of the Future from Algae

Abstract

Marine macroalgae are nutraceuticals rich in nutritional profile and secondary bioactive metabolites. However, they have varied nutritional and biochemical qualities due to a variety of reasons. This study aimed to determine the phytochemical profile and biological activities of Caulerpa racemosa, edible green algae also known as Sea grapes. The study successfully identified secondary metabolites through metabolomic profiling untargeted by LC-HRMS as well as a bioactive peptide. In addition, antioxidant activity and cytotoxicity of extracts and compounds were determined. A total of 103 metabolites were identified in C. racemosa extract obtained by the maceration, while 48 were detected in the soxhlet extract. A peptide with the sequence ELWKTF (Glu-Leu-Trp-Lys-Thr-Phe; C41H58N8O) and its abundance was identified in the α-chymotrypsin hydrolysate of C. racemosa. In the antioxidant activity test, Soxhletated-extract (ES) and purified fraction 1 (PF1) had half-maximal effective concentration (EC50) < EC50 of control/GSH (DPPH inhibition) and PF1 had EC50 < EC50 of control/Trolox (ABTS inhibition). The cytotoxicity results showed that macerated-extract (EM), ES, and PF1 as antioxidant agents in the observed EC50 were safe. In general, C. racemosa contains antioxidant nutrients, metabolites, and bioactive peptides, a factor that makes it a promising functional food and pharmaceutical.

Ulvophyte Green Algae Caulerpa lentillifera: Metabolites Profile and Antioxidant, Anticancer, Anti-Obesity, and In Vitro Cytotoxicity Properties

“…The dried simplicia was extracted using either the hot or the cold method [ 11 ]. Maceration represents the cold way, while soxhlet represents the hot way.…”

“…About two-thirds of Indonesia’s territory is in the form of the sea, and it is famous as one of the world’s mega-diversity areas, with more than 555 macroalgae species having been identified in its ocean areas. In addition, most of Indonesia’s islands are located within the Coral Triangle, which has been identified as an area with a very high diversity of Caulerpa [ 11 , 12 , 13 ].…”

“…Interestingly, natural populations of C. lentillifera have varying nutritional and biochemical properties due to environmental factors such as predation, sedimentation, salinity, temperature, pollution, and nutrients; thus, different geographical growing fields can contribute to varying levels of nutrients and secondary metabolites [ 11 ]. Despite its abundance, research on Indonesian C. lentillifera ’s bioactive molecules profile and their direct biological activities is still limited.…”

Caulerpa racemosa extract inhibits HeLa cancer cells migration by altering expression of epithelial-mesenchymal transition proteins

“…Also, the safety profile of C. racemosa has been investigated using the MTT assay in another study, and in that study, the LC 50 value for a macerated extract of C. racemosa (EM) in 24 h of incubation is 914.78 μg/ml. In terms of cytotoxicity, it was observed that C. racemosa was safe to be potentially developed into various products ( Nurkolis et al, 2022 ).…”

Green seaweeds fatty acids and heterocyclic derivatives against cancer: Opinion on future nutraceutical application

“…Based on the existence of photosynthetic pigments, green algae are members of the Chlorophyta phylum of the Plantae kingdom ( 15 ). As stated above, seaweed has several health-benefiting potentials ( 16 – 18 ). Numerous sulfated and carboxylated polysaccharides, including alginate, ulvan, and fucoidan, as well as carotenoids, phenolic compounds, tocopherols, and peptides, are among the many bioactive substances found in seaweed ( 19 ).…”