ANTIOXIDANT AND CYTOTOXIC ACTIVITIES OF GREEN SEAWEED ULVA LACTUCA TOWARDS MCF-7 BREAST CANCER CELLS

Abstract

Systematic researches for breast cancer are ran in Indonesia with its flora resources and therapeutic potentials as prospective towards cancer cells through studies concerning phytochemical contents, antioxidant activity, and cytotoxicity. The aim of this research is to obtain Ulva lactuca abundant potential that is available in Indonesia as antioxidant and anticancer towards breast cancer cell MCF-7. Ulva lactuca is extracted by maceration with solvents which are n-hexane, ethyl-acetate, and ethanol, ensuing extracts of n-hexane, ethyl-acetate and ethanol. The extracts later collected and tested through phytochemical and TLC analysis. The DPPH assay determines the extracts’ antioxidant activity as a radical scavenger and MTT assay evaluates the cytotoxicity towards MCF-7 cells. Phytochemical screening revealed secondary metabolites triterpenoids, steroids, and glycosides in Ulva lactuca. The TLC resulted that there are 11 phytochemical components. From DPPH assay, ethanol and ethyl acetate extracts of Ulva lactuca are classified to have very active antioxidant activity against DPPH free radicals, with IC50 of 3.514 ?g/mL and 33.770 ?g/mL, respectively. From MTT assay, n-hexane extract gives IC50 value of 70.496 ?g/mL, and ethyl-acetate extract gives IC50 value of 50.883 ?g/mL towards MCF-7 cells, both have moderate anticancer activity. Whereas the ethanol extract gives IC50 value of 11.920 ?g/mL on MCF-7 cells which considered to have active anticancer activity. Ethanol extract of Ulva lactuca that has a strong antioxidant and cytotoxic activity against MCF-7 cells should be further develop as an anti-breast cancer agent.