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Published on: June 13, 2020
Comparative Correlation Between Chemical Composition and Cytotoxic Potential of the Coral-Associated Fungus
Faten K Abd El-Hady1, Kamel H Shaker2, Ahmed M A Souleman3
1Chemistry of Natural Products Department, National Research Center, Giza, Egypt.
Abstract:
Cancer is a leading cause of death in several countries. In the search for new anticancer drugs, marine organisms have played an important role in the discovery of lead compounds and the development of new pharmaceuticals for their wide diversity of chemical structures and biological activities. In the present study, the cytotoxicity on colorectal cancer cells HCT116 exerted by marine fungus Aspergillus sp. 2C1-EGY extracts associated with the soft coral Sinularia sp. was investigated; the sub-fractions Fr 2c and Fr 2d had significantly high cytotoxic activity (88 and 85%, respectively). Moreover, the major hexadecanoic, octadecanoic, and octadecenoic acids as well as their methyl esters were isolated. GC/MS analysis revealed the identification of 46 major and minor compounds, from which 19 saturated and unsaturated fatty acids and eight fatty acid esters were identified.
Insights
Marine fungus extracts from soft coral showed significant anticancer activity against colorectal cancer cells. Researchers identified fatty acids and esters, highlighting potential for new drug development.
Area of Science:
- Marine Biology
- Pharmacology
- Organic Chemistry
Background:
- Marine organisms are a rich source of novel anticancer compounds.
- Natural products from marine fungi and invertebrates show diverse biological activities.
- Colorectal cancer remains a significant global health challenge, driving the search for new therapeutics.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the cytotoxic effects of marine fungus Aspergillus sp. 2C1-EGY extracts associated with soft coral Sinularia sp. on colorectal cancer cells.
- To identify and characterize the chemical compounds responsible for the observed cytotoxicity.
Main Methods:
- Cytotoxicity assays were performed on HCT116 colorectal cancer cells.
- Extracts from the marine fungus and soft coral were fractionated.
- Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (GC/MS) was used for compound identification.
Main Results:
- Two sub-fractions, Fr 2c and Fr 2d, exhibited high cytotoxic activity (88% and 85%, respectively).
- Major compounds isolated included hexadecanoic acid, octadecanoic acid, octadecenoic acid, and their methyl esters.
- GC/MS analysis identified 46 compounds, including 19 fatty acids and 8 fatty acid esters.
Conclusions:
- Marine fungus-derived compounds associated with soft coral possess potent cytotoxic activity against colorectal cancer cells.
- The identified fatty acids and their esters represent potential lead compounds for developing novel anticancer drugs.
- This study underscores the value of marine natural products in drug discovery efforts for cancer therapy.
