CYTOTOXIC AND ANTIMICROBIAL ACTIVITIES OF HYDRO-METHANOLIC EXTRACTS OF SPONGES (PORIFERA) FROM CEARÁ STATE, BRAZIL

Abstract

The present study evaluated the cytotoxic potentials in hydro-methanolic extracts (HME) of eight sponge species (Amphimedon sp., Amphimedon viridis, Chondrilla aff. nucula, Echinodictyum dendroides, Halichondria sp., Placospongia intermedia, Tedania ignis and Tethya sp.) collected in Ceara State, Brazil, The cytotoxicity of methanol extracts were rated at the following bioactivities: inhibition of the development of sea urchin eggs, hemolytic activity on mice erythrocytes, inhibition of in vitro cellular proliferation on tumor cell lines and antimicrobial potential. Seven, out of the eight species investigated, showed some kind of activities on any of the assays performed, being the inhibition of the development of sea-urchin eggs and the reduction of the in vitro proliferation of tumor cells the most commomly observed. The HME of Amphimedon sp. showed the highest antimicrobial potential (MIC=0.15 mg/mL) against both Staphylococcus aureus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa strains and the strongest antiproliferative action on the tumor cell lines, with IC 50 of 2.8, 31.9 and 13.0µg/mL towards CEM, HL-60 and HCT-8, respectively. On the assay with sea urchin eggs, this extract showed a stronger inhibition on the 3 rd cleavage (IC 50 =107.8 µg/mL) ans blastulae (IC 50 <62.5µg/mL) stages.