Biological activity and chemical profiling of terrestrial and freshwater cyanobacteria from the Philippines

Abstract

A total of 23 cyanobacteria cultures were extracted and sequentially solvent partitioned with hexane, n-butanol (n-BuOH), and water. The n-BuOH extracts were tested for antiproliferative effects against HCT116 human colorectal adenocarcinoma cells, anti-inflammatory activity on lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated RAW 264.7 murine macrophage cells, and antimalarial activity vs. Plasmodium falciparum W2. Eleven (11) and two extracts showed antiproliferative and anti-inflammatory activity, respectively. None of the extracts were antimalarial. Bioactivity-guided purification of the n-BuOH extracts from Hapalosiphon welwitschii Cy 51 and Oscillatoria obscura Cy 13 yielded seven antiproliferative indole alkaloids. This work highlights the potential of terrestrial and freshwater cyanobacteria from the Philippines as a source of bioactive and structurally diverse natural products.