Chemical Characterization and Cytotoxic Activity of Antarctic Macroalgae Extracts against Colorectal Cancer

Rafaele Frassini,Sidnei Moura,Vagner Reinaldo Zingalli Bueno Pereira,Pio Colepicolo,João Antonio Pêgas Henriques,Leonardo Zambotti Villela,Yeslei Paulino Da Silva,Cláudio Martin Pereira De Pereira,Aline Paternostro Martins,Nair S Yokoya,Mutue Toyota Fujii,Mariana Roesch-Ely

doi:10.4236/abc.2019.95013

Abstract

Background/Aim: Antarctic seaweeds are considered a promising source of compounds with anticancer activity. Colorectal cancer (CRC) is one of the most incident cancers with high mortality rates worldwide. This work aimed to characterize chemically extracts of the Antarctic macroalgae Iridaea cordata, Cystosphaera jacquinotii and Desmarestia anceps and to evaluate the cytotoxic effects against human colon cancer HCT 116 cell line. Materials and Methods: The extracts were obtained by depletion using an ultrasound probe and were identified by High-Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC) and Gas Chromatography coupled with Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS). Cell viability was determined by MTT assay. Results: Hexanic and chloroform extracts of the I. cordata and the hexanic, chloroform and methanolic extracts of D. anceps were able to inhibit growth of colorectal cancer cells in the three different incubation times (24, 48 and 72 h). Through GC analysis, 01 compounds were identified in the hexane extract and 02 compounds in the chloroform extract of the algae I. cordata. The hexane extract of D. anceps macroalgae presented 5 compounds, chloroform extract 10 and methanolic extract 3 respectively, with special highlight to fucosterol. Carotenoid analysis by HPLC identified β-carotene in all species, while zeaxanthin was present in the spectrum of I. cordata and C. jacquinotii. Fucoxanthin and violaxanthin were confirmed in the brown seaweeds C. jacquinotii and D. anceps. Conclusion: Extracts of macroalgae I. Cordata and D. anceps may be a source of therapeutic agents against CRC.

Highlights

Colorectal cancer (CRC) prevalence is one of the major public health problems worldwide due to its high incidence and mortality
Materials and Methods: The extracts were obtained by depletion using an ultrasound probe and were identified by High-Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC) and Gas Chromatography coupled with Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS)
Carotenoid analysis by HPLC identified β-carotene in all species, while zeaxanthin was present in the spectrum of I. cordata and C. jacquinotii

Summary

Introduction

Colorectal cancer (CRC) prevalence is one of the major public health problems worldwide due to its high incidence and mortality. CRC is the third most common cancer among men, and the second among women, accounting for about 1.4 million new cases and almost 700 thousand deaths in 2012 [1]. The most recent estimate of Brazilian National Cancer Institute [2] for 2018/2019 is that CRC will affect 17,380 men and 18,890 women, consisting of the third and second causes of cancer deaths respectively. A high incidence is reported in the most developed economically and industrialized regions, such as Southeast and South. These may be correlated with a western way of life as obesity, smoking, sedentary lifestyle, high consumption of red meat and processed foods, low vegetable intake, and aging of the population, similar to developed countries [2] [3]. Research on new natural compounds with anticancer properties and reduced side effects have become important in providing alternatives for the CRC treatment [5]

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