The current study attempted to evaluate the antagonistic activity of compounds isolated and purified from the marine algae Padina arborescens during cultivation. The compounds were collected on a filter, concentrated on ODS columns and separated by HPLC. Two peaks that showed competitive progesterone binding activity with membrane progesterone receptor α (mPRα) were purified. Their physiological activity was further uncovered by in vitro and in vivo oocyte maturation and ovulation-inducing assays using zebrafish. The compounds inhibited the induction of oocyte maturation and ovulation. Moreover, the results showed that the compounds have antagonistic activity against mPRα. The purified compounds with antagonistic activity against mPRα would be considered as new pharmaceutical candidate.
Keywords: Marine algae; Padina arborescens; membrane progesterone receptor; steroid binding assay.