Study in mass spectrometry-based metabolomics approach and cytotoxic activity of methanolic extracts of sea cucumbers

Abstract

Sea cucumbers are marine invertebrate that possess interesting biological active compounds with high economic value, such as antifungal, antibacterial, antimicrobial, anti-fouling, anti-inflammatory and antitumor. Sea cucumber's saponins are known to show potential natural anticancer activities against human cancer cells. This study evaluated the cytotoxic activities of sea cucumber's methanol extract from genus Actinopyga, Bohadscia, Holothuria, Stichopus, Pseudocolochirus, and Thelenota from Lampung, Makassar, and Lombok towards four human tumor cell lines; i.e. human breast adenocarcinoma MDA-MB-231, human lung carcinoma A-549, human colorectal adenocarcinoma HT-29, human pancreatic adenocarcinoma PSN1. Cytotoxic assessment was conducted by using sulforhodamine B (SRB) colorimetric method. The active fraction was further purified by using HPLC. Mass spectrometry-based metabolomic approach was used to get information of metabolites contained in biological samples based on UHPLC-DAD-TOFMS spectrometry continue with NMR. Based on data measurement of HPLC separation, MS and NMR, two pure saponins were successfully isolated from methanolic fraction of Bohadscia similis extract, which are Arguside C and Bivittoside D. The active fraction of S. noctivagus contained triterpenoid glycoside (Variegatuside F) and saponins (Stichloroside B1) while methanolic fraction of H. scabra contained sulfated triterpenoid oligoglycoside (Holothurin A).