Anti‐inflammatory and antiproliferative activities of crude extract and its fractions of the defensive secretion from the Mediterranean sponge, Spongia officinalis

Abstract

AbstractThe fact that conventional and newly emerging treatment procedures like chemotherapy, catalytic therapy, photodynamic therapy, and radiotherapy have not succeeded in reversing the outcome of many cancers alternative treatment options has been explored. This study documents the identification of component(s) from the Mediterranean sponge, Spongia officinalis that have anti‐inflammatory and antiproliferative activities. In the present study we investigated the efficacy of a crude extract and its semi‐purified fractions (F1–F3) of the defensive secretion from Spongia officinalis for in vivo anti‐inflammatory activity using the carrageenan‐induced paw edema assay in rats and their in vitro antiproliferative effects against three human cancer cell lines (A549, lung cell carcinoma; HCT15, colon cell carcinoma; and MCF7, breast adenocarcinoma). Among the series, the crude extract exhibited interesting anti‐inflammatory activity associated with significant growth and concentration‐related colony inhibitory effects against the three cell lines. The fractions F2 and F3 showed, respectively, interesting anti‐inflammatory and antiproliferative activities in a dose‐dependent manner. The purification and the determination of chemical structures of compounds of these active fractions are under investigation. Drug Dev Res 71: 412–418, 2010. © 2010 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.