Anti-cancer activity of selected seaweeds against HeLa, K-562 and MDA-MB cell lines

Abstract

Anticancer activity of marine macro algae (seaweeds) Sargassum wightii, Ulva fasciata and Gracillaria corticata against HeLa, K-562 and MDA-MB cell lines was studied. During the present investigation crude extracts of seaweeds were prepared using soxhlet apparatus. Hexane, Butanol and Methanol were used as solvents. Crude extracts were dissolved in DMSO. In vitro anticancer activity of seaweeds at various concentrations (12.5–200 μg/ml) was studied against the chosen cell lines using MTT assay (3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide, a yellow tetrazole). Butanolic extract of Gracillaria corticata (200 µg/ml) has shown greater anticancer activity than hexane and methanolic extracts of G. corticata and butanol, hexane and methanolic extracts of Sargassum wightii and Ulva fasciata.