Document Type : Original Article
Authors
1
Department of Pharmacognosy, Faculty of Pharmacy, Tanta University, Tanta, Egypt
2
Department of Pharmacognosy, Faculty of Pharmacy, Tanta University, El-Guish Street (Medical Campus), 31527 Tanta, Egypt
Abstract
Bioactive compounds from macroalgae have gained considerable attention for their therapeutic potential. This study focuses on four macroalgae Polycladia myrica Draima et al., Sirophysalis trinodis Kütz., Sargassum aquifolium C. Agardh, and Digenea simplex C. Agardh collected from the Egyptian Red Sea. Methanolic extracts were screened for phytochemical constituents and cytotoxicity against colon cancer (Caco-2), breast cancer (MCF-7), and normal fibroblast (WI-38) cell lines. Phytochemical screening confirmed the presence of carbohydrates, terpenoids, flavonoids, steroids, and cardiac glycosides, with varying levels of positivity. Saponins were detected in P. myrica Draima et al. and S. aquifolium C. Agardh but were absent in the other two species. Tannins were absent only in D. simplex C. Agardh. None of the examined algae contained alkaloids. D. simplex C. Agardh and P. myrica Draima et al. showed the strongest anticancer activity with minimal toxicity to normal cells. Their IC50 values were 21.71 ± 1.9, 18.92 ± 1.6, and 41.88 ± 2.8 µg/mL for D. simplex C. Agardh, and 32.49 ± 2.3, 39.13 ± 2.6, and 85.28 ± 4.3 µg/mL for P. myrica Draima et al. against Caco-2, MCF-7, and WI-38 cell lines, respectively. These two species were selected for further chemical analysis. Their extracts were saponified and analyzed using GC-MS. The identified compounds support the observed bioactivity, suggesting a link between chemical profile and cytotoxic effect. This study highlights the potential of Red Sea macroalgae, particularly D. simplex C. Agardh and P. myrica Draima et al., as promising natural anticancer agents, and encourages investigation of their active constituents.
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