Abstract
For the investigation of bioactive components from Sri Lankan seaweeds, three species of red algae ( Chondrophycus ceylanicus , Gelidiella acerosa , Gracilaria corticata ), two species of green algae ( Chaetomorpha crassa , Caulerpa racemosa ) and one species of brown algae ( Sargassum cassifolium ) were evaluated. For the bioactivity evaluations, total phenol content (TPC), free radical scavenging activity using electron spin resonance (ESR) spectroscopy and anticancer activity against different cancer cell lines including a human promyelocytic leukemia (HL-60), a human lung carcinoma (A549) and a mouse melanoma (B16F10) were assessed in vitro . Among the extracts, C. racemosa showed significantly higher radical scavenging activity against DPPH (34.34 %), alkyl (85.17 %) and hydroxyl radicals (81.16 %), respectively. The MTT assay confirmed that all the extracts were not cytotoxic at 50 and 100 μg/mL concentrations against vero cells in vitro . In addition, a significant cancer cell growth inhibitory effect (IC50 value 30.17 μg/mL) was observed by C. racemosa methanol extract against HL-60 cells and it was the highest anticancer effect compared to the other extracts. Apoptotic body formation in HL-60 cells and the accumulation of DNA in sub-G1 phase were determined by C. racemosa extract in a dose-dependent manner. This study is the first report of Sri Lankan seaweeds with the potential of pharmacological effects including antioxidant and anticancer activity in vitro. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.4038/jnsfsr.v42i4.7730 J.Natn.Sci.Foundation Sri Lanka 2014 42 (4): 315-323
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