Bioactive Compounds in the Ethanol Extract of Marine Sponge Stylissa carteri Demonstrates Potential Anti-Cancer Activity in Breast Cancer Cells

Abstract

Objective: Despite advanced treatment options available, drug resistance develops in breast cancer (BC) patients<br />requiring novel effective drugs. Stylissa carteri, a marine sponge predominantly living in Indonesia territories, has<br />not been extensively studied as anti-cancer. Therefore, this study targeted to assess the anti-tumor activity of the<br />ethanol extract of S. carteri in BC cells. Methods: S. carteri was collected from Pramuka Island, at Kepulauan Seribu<br />National Park, Jakarta, Indonesia and extracted using ethanol. Different BC cells including MDA MB 231, MDA<br />MB 468, SKBR3, HCC-1954 and MCF-7 cells were treated with this extract for cytotoxic analysis using MTT assay.<br />Spheroid growth assay and apoptosis assay were conducted in HCC-1954 cells. In addition, cell migration analysis and<br />synergistic activity with doxorubicin or paclitaxel were conducted in MDA MB 231 cells. This extract was subjected<br />also for GC-MS analysis. Results: The results show that ethanol extract of S. carteri demonstrated a cytotoxic activity<br />in BC cells. The IC50 of this extract was lower 15 μg/ml in MDA MB 231, MDA MB 468, SKBR3, and HCC-1954<br />cells. Moreover, this extract inhibited spheroids growth and induced apoptosis in HCC-1954 cells. It inhibited cell<br />migration and demonstrated a synergistic activity with doxorubicin or paclitaxel on triggering cell death in MDA MB<br />231 cells. Furthermore, GC-MS analysis indicated that this extract contained 1,2-Benzenediol, Dibutyl phthalate and<br />9,12-Octadecadienoic acid, ethyl ester. Conclusion: Our preliminary data indicate a potential anti-tumor activity of<br />ethanol extract of S. carteri in breast cancer cells.