Aim: We investigated the antimicrobial and anticancer properties of an ethanol crude extract of Red Sea brown alga (Hormophysa cuneiformis) from Egypt.
Methods: Extraction was achieved by mixing 100 g of sample powder with absolute ethanol, incubating at 37 °C overnight in a shaking incubator, and then collecting the extract. The extract's antimicrobial activity was tested using a well diffusion assay against the tested pathogens (Escherichia coli, Bacillus subtilis, Staphylococcus aureus, and Candida albicans) in comparison to commercial antibiotics. Anticancer activity was assessed using MTT assay on MCF-7, HepG-2, and HEP-2 cell lines. The anticancer mechanism of action against the HepG-2 cell line was investigated using cell cycle analysis, Annexin V, and antioxidant enzymes, in addition to transmission electron microscopy.
Results: GC-MS phytoconstituent profile of the extract was dominant with fatty acids. A broad antimicrobial effect against all the pathogenic isolates of E. coli, S. aureus, B. subtitles, and C. albicans was demonstrated, especially at the high concentration in comparison to commercial antibiotics. The extract could inhibit the growth of the tested cell lines. We observed the most significant effect on HepG-2 cells, and the concentration of the extract played a role in the level of inhibition (IC50 of 44.6 ± 0.6 µg/ml). The extract had negligible effects on Vero normal cell lines at the lower concentration, with slight toxicity (90.8% viability) at the highest concentration (500 µg/ml). At this same concentration, the extract caused 80-92% inhibition of the cancer cell lines. The extract appears to have demonstrated promising effects on cancer cells. It induces programmed cell death (apoptosis), arrests the cell cycle, and affects the oxidative/antioxidant balance within the cells, potentially leading to the suppression or elimination of cancer cells. These findings are encouraging and may have implications for cancer treatment or further research in this area. More action of extract was seen against bacteria than fungi, with a wide antibacterial impact against all of the tested isolates, notably at the high concentration in comparison to conventional antibiotics.
Conclusion: According to the findings, H. cuneiformis may be a valuable source of chemicals that are both antimicrobial and anticancer.
Keywords: Anticancer; Antimicrobial; Antioxidant enzymes; Cell cycle; Electron microscope; H. cuneiformis, HepG-2 cell line.