Evaluation of antitumor and antioxidant activity of Sargassum tenerrimum against Ehrlich ascites carcinoma in mice.
BACKGROUND
In the last half century, discovering, developing and introducing of clinical agents from marine sources have seen great successes, with examples including the anti-cancer compound trabectedin. However, with increasing need for new anticancer drugs, further exploration for novel compounds from marine organism sources is strongly justified.


OBJECTIVE
The major aim of this study was to evaluate the antitumor and antioxidant potential of Sargassum tenerrimum J.Agardh (Sargassaceae) on Ehrlich ascites carcinoma (EAC) in Swiss albino mice.


METHODS
An ethanol extract of S. tenerrimum (EEST) from whole algae was used to evaluate cytotoxicity followed by in vivo assessment of toxicity, using biochemical parameters including hepatic and non-hepatic enzymes. Antioxidant properties were examined in animals bearing EAC treated with daily oral administration of 100-300 mg/kg extract suspension.


RESULTS
Antitumor effects of EEST in EAC bearing mice was observed with LD50 1815 mg/kg. Parameters like body weight, tumor volume, packed cell volume, tumor cell count, mean survival time and increase in life span in animals in the EAC bearing animals treated with EEST 300 mg/kg was comparable with control group. Significant differences were also seen with changes in total protein content, hepatic enzymes contents, MDA level, and free radical scavenging enzymes in untreated vs. EEST treated group animals.


CONCLUSIONS
Evaluation of antioxidant enzymes and hepatic enzymes in the EAC animal model treated with EEST exhibited similar effects as the positive control drug 5-flurouracil. S. tenerrimum extracts contain effective antioxidants with significant antitumor activity.
Division of Biochemistry and Genetics, American International Medical University, Saint Lucia E-mail : satyajitpatra@gmail.com, msundar77@gmail.com.
Satyajit
S
Patra
Meenakshi Sundaram
MS
Muthuraman
Atj Ram
AR
Prabhu
R Ramya
RR
Priyadharshini
Sujitha
S
Parthiban
D000818:Animals; D000972:Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000494:pharmacology*; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects; D015153:Blotting, Western; D002286:Carcinoma, Ehrlich Tumor / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D002374:Catalase / Q000378:metabolism; D049109:Cell Proliferation / Q000187:drug effects; D005978:Glutathione / Q000378:metabolism; D015227:Lipid Peroxidation / Q000187:drug effects; D051379:Mice; D010084:Oxidation-Reduction; D008517:Phytotherapy; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000494:pharmacology*; D044647:Sargassum / Q000737:chemistry*; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase / Q000378:metabolism
D000972:Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic; D000975:Antioxidants; D010936:Plant Extracts; D002374:Catalase; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase; D005978:Glutathione