Cytotoxicity against human breast carcinoma cells of silver nanoparticles biosynthesized using Capsosiphon fulvescens extract.

Targeting cancer cells with small nanoparticles is a novel and promising approach to cancer therapy. Breast cancer is the most common cancer afflicting women worldwide. In the present study, silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) were synthesized using the aqueous extract of the marine alga Capsosiphon (C.) fulvescens, and the cytotoxicity and anti-cancer activities of the nanoparticles against MCF-7 breast cancer cells were analyzed. Nanoparticle formation was confirmed by solution color change and UV-Vis spectroscopy. The size and distribution of the C. fulvescens-biosynthesized silver nanoparticles (CfAgNPs) were then examined using various analytical methods; the particle size was around 20-22 nm and spherical in shape with no agglomeration. Cytotoxicity analysis revealed that the inhibitory concentration (IC50) of CfAgNPs was 50 µg/ml. MCF-7 cell viability decreased with increasing concentrations of CfAgNPs. MCF-7 cells were evaluated for morphological changes before and after treatment with the CfAgNPs; cells treated with C. fulvescens aqueous algal extract (without CfAgNPs) showed irregular confluent aggregates with round polygonal cells, similar to the untreated control. Tamoxifen- (TMX) and CfAgNPs-treated cells show significant morphological changes. An apoptosis study was conducted using 4',6-diamidino-2-phenylindole (DAPI) staining, in which CfAgNP-treated MCF-7 cells generated bright blue fluorescence and shortened, disjointed chromatin was evident; control cells displayed less bright fluorescence. Flow cytometry analysis revealed that the percentage of cells in late apoptosis was high following treatment with TMX (77.2%) and CfAgNP (74.6%). A novel anti-cancer agent, developed by generating silver nanoparticles from C. fulvescens extract, showed strong cytotoxic activity against MCF-7 cells.

Capsosiphon fulvescens extracts improve obesity-associated metabolic disorders and hepatic steatosis in high-fat diet-induced obese mice.

Herbal dietary supplements have attracted more and more attention owing to their relative effectiveness in obesity -related metabolic disorders and diseases. This study investigated the therapeutic effects and underlying mechanisms of Capsosiphon fulvescens (CF) extracts on obesity, their associated metabolic disorders and hepatic steatosis in high-fat diet (HFD)-induced obese mice. Male C57BL/6 mice were fed with normal, HFD/Vehicle and HFD/CF (orally 300 mg/kg/day for CF). After 12 weeks, CF blocked HFD-induced body weight, food intake, liver weight, hepatic triglyceride (TG), fat mass (weight of abdominal subcutaneous fat and epididymal adipose tissue) and biochemical parameters (total cohlesterol, glucose, TG, creatinine, high-density lipoproteins cholesterol and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol) of serum. CF also had improved serum levels of adiponectin, leptin and insulin-like growth factor-1 in HFD/CF mice. Moreover, CF ameliorated the hepatic steatosis-reducing size of white adipose tissue. These results indicate that CF have anti-obesity effects and are effective for reducing metabolic risk and hepatic steatosis.

Inhibition of Formation of Azoxymethane-induced Colonic Aberrant Crypt Foci in Rats by Edible Green Algae Capsosiphon fulvescens and Brown Algae Hizikia fusiforme.

Capsosiphon fulvescens (green seaweed) and Hizikia fusiforme (brown seaweed) are marine algae consumed as food supplements, especially in Japan, China and Korea, and are considered traditional medicinal tonics for certain ailments. The aim of this study was to investigate the possible inhibitory effects of dietary C. fulvescens and H. fusiforme on azoxymethane (AOM)-induced colorectal cancer (CRC) in rats. F344 male rats (5 weeks, 150 g) were divided into six groups as follows. Group 1: Injected with normal saline solution and fed control diet (untreated control). Group 2: Injected with AOM and fed control diet (treated control). Group 3: Injected with AOM and fed 1% C. fulvescens diet. Group 4: Injected with AOM and fed 2% C. fulvescens diet. Group 5: Injected with AOM and fed 2% H. fusiforme diet. Group 6: Injected with AOM and fed 6% H. fusiforme diet. Test animals received subcutaneous injections of AOM (15 mg/1 ml/kg body weight) once a week for 2 weeks to induce aberrant crypt foci (ACF) in treated control and experimental groups. We evaluated the effects of dietary C. fulvescens and H. fusiforme at two different dose levels: 1 and 2% C. fulvescens, and 2 and 6% H. fusiforme, on colonic carcinogenesis by AOM in rats. Our results suggest that body weights were not significantly different amongst groups. We found that feeding C. fulvescens and H. fusiforme with a control diet significantly (p<0.05) inhibited the development of ACF in experimental groups. C. fulvescens and H. fusiforme in food also significantly (p<0.05) reduced the proliferating cell nuclear antigen labeling index in the colonic tissues of experimental groups. These results demonstrate the chemopreventive potential of C. fulvescens and H. fusiforme against CRC in an AOM-induced rats.