Cytotoxicity, antioxidants and antimicrobial activities of lipids extracted from some marine algae

Abstract

The lipids of five marine algae species, i.e., two from the Red sea, Rhodophyta (Laurencia popillose, Galaxoura cylindriea), and three from the Mediterranean sea (Chlorophyta, Ulva fasciata; and Phaeophyta, Dilophys fasciola and Taonia atomaria) were evaluated as anticancer, antiviral, antimicrobial and antioxidant activities. Total lipid content was varied significantly, and the values ranged from 0.66 to 2.20%. The highest lipid content was found in U. fasciata (2.2% dw). Among fatty acids of all algae species, palmitic was dominating fatty acid and C14:0, C17:0, C18:0, C18:1, C20:4 were presented in significant levels. The polyunsaturated fatty acids C18:2, C22:5 and C20:3 were identified in most algal species. The biological activities of algal crude lipids were assessed in vitro. The crude lipids at a concentration of 10 µg/ml inhibited HSV-1 virus growth (in vitro) and % inhibition ranged from 12.5 to 74.4%. While, total lipids at concentration of 20 µg/ml induced toxic effect in host cells. The algal lipids exhibited a potent inhibitory effect on both breast and liver human cancer cell lines with IC50 values ranged from 0.34 to 7.11 µg/ml. All algal lipids induced remarkable antimicrobial activity Aspergillus niger and Candida albicans. Marine algal lipids exhibited moderate scavenging activity toward DPPH. radical, and high activity was found in lipids of fractionD. fasciol.