Anticancer activity of Stichopus vastus extract against MCF-7 and HeLa cells from Natuna waters
Abstract
Sea cucumbers (Stichopus vastus) contain bioactive compounds with potential anticancer properties, making them a promising alternative raw material for pharmaceutical development. This study aimed to isolate and fractionate bioactive compounds from S. vastus and evaluate their anticancer activity against MCF-7 and HeLa cell lines. Isolation was performed using Thin Layer Chromatography (TLC), and cytotoxic activity was assessed in vitro using the MTT assay. Phytochemical screening revealed the presence of steroids, terpenoids, and saponins. IC₅₀ values were calculated through linear regression analysis. The methanol extract exhibited IC₅₀ values of 13.50 µg/mL (HeLa) and 17.25 µg/mL (MCF-7), indicating active anticancer potential. The n-hexane fraction showed IC₅₀ values of 10.09 µg/mL (HeLa) and 15.11 µg/mL (MCF-7), also categorized as active. Notably, the ethyl acetate fraction demonstrated superior activity, with an IC₅₀ of 7.00 µg/mL against HeLa (very active) and 13.32 µg/mL against MCF-7 (active). These findings suggest that the ethyl acetate fraction of S. vastus holds significant promise as an anticancer agent, particularly against HeLa cells.
References
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[3] Hossain, A., Deepeka, D., Fereidoon, H, “Northern Sea Cucumber (Cucumaria frondosa): A Potential Candidate for Functional Food, Nutraceutical, and Pharmaceutical Sector”, Mar. Drugs, vol. 18, pp. 274; doi:10.3390/md18050274, 2020.
[4] Eso, A, Herlina U, Thomas T, Ryanto K. S, Iwan K. E, Yustinus C. A. Hutasoit C. M., Evi M. A, Ferra O. M, Bayu I. S, H, “A Reviews on Use of Sea Cucumber as a Treatment for Oral Cancer”, Sys Rev Pharm, vol. 11, no. 5, pp. 299-307, 2020.
[5] Harborne, J. B. Phytochemical Meth-ods: A guide to modern techniques of plant analysis 3 rd Edition. London: Chap-man and Hall. 1998.
[6] Wagner, H., & Bladt, S. Plant drug analysis:A thin layer chromatography atlas, second edition, 359, 362, 364. New York, USA: Springer. 1996.
[7] Cancer Chemoprevention Research Center. Cytotoxic test protocol with MTT method. Yogyakarta, Indonesia: CCR. 2015.
[8] Weerapreeyakul, N., Nonpunya, A., Barustux, S., Thitimetaroch, T. & Sripanidkulchai, B, “Evaluation of the anti-cancer potential of six herbs against a hepatoma cell line”. Chinese Medical Journal, vol. 7, no. 15, pp. 1-7, 2012,
[9] Rohman, A. Chromatography for Analysis Medicine. Yogyakarta, Indonesia: Graha Ilmu. 2009.
[10] Shah, M. D, Jaya S. S. S, Mohammad I, “Phytochemical investigation and antioxidant activities of methanol extract, methanol fractions and essential oil of Dillenia suffruticosa leaves”, Arabian Journal of Chemistry, vol. 13, no. 9, pp. 7170-7182, 2020.
[11] Sukmiwati M, Susilawati S, Rahmawati N and Islami D, “Cytotoxic potential of berunok sea cucumber (Paracaudina australis) against breast cancer cells (T47D) [version 1; peer review: awaiting peerreview]”. F1000Research, vol. 13, pp. 340, (https://doi.org/10.12688/f1000research.145350.1), 2024.
[12] Putram, N. M., Setyaningsih, I., Tarman, K. & Nursid, M, “Anti-cancer activity of the active fraction of sea cucumbers”. Journal of Processing of Indonesian Fishery Products, vol. 20, no. 1, pp. 53-62, 2017.
[13] Alper, M, and Güneş, M, “Evaluation of cytotoxic, apoptotic effects and phenolic compounds of sea cucumber Holothuria tubulosa (Gmelin, 1791) extracts”. Turkish Journal of Veterinary & Animal Sciences, vol. 44, no. 3, Article 21, https://doi.org/10.3906/vet-1909-80, 2020.
[14] Khan, F., Magaji, M. G., Abdu-Aguye, I., Hussaini, I. M., Hamza, A., Olarukooba, A.B. … Maje, I. M, “Phytochemical profiling of the bioactive principles of Alysicarpus glumaceus (Vahl) DC. aerial parts”, İstanbul Journal of Pharmacy, vol. 51, no. 2, pp. 228-238, 2021.
[15] Maskur, M. , Mohammad S, W. R. Haryo B. S., “Bioactive compound and functional properties of sea cucumbers as nutraceutical products”. Reviews in Agricultural Science, vol. 12, pp. 45-64. https://doi.org/10.7831/ras.12.0_45. 2024.
[16] Nursid, M., Marraskuranto, E., Kuswardini, A. & Winanto, T, “Screening of tyrosinase inhibitor, antioxidant and cytotoxicity of dried sea cucumber from Tomini Bay, Indonesia”, Pharmacog J, vol. 11, no. 3, pp. 555-8, 2019
[17] Eltamany, E.E.; Abdelmohsen, U.R.; Hal, D.M.; Ibrahim, A.K.; Hassanean, H.A.; Abdelhameed, R.F.A.; Temraz, T.A.; Hajjar, D.; Makki, A.A.; Hendawy, O.M.; et al. “Holospiniferoside: A New antitumor cerebroside from the red sea cucumber holothuria spinifera: In Vitro and In Silico Studies”. Molecules, vol. 26, pp. 1555. https://doi.org/ 10.3390/molecules26061555. 2021.
[18] Abdelhameed, R. F. A., Enas E. E., Dina M. H, Amany K. I, Asmaa M. A, Tarfah A. W, Khayrya A. Y, Adel M. A. E. K, Hashim A. H., Shaimaa F, Gerhard B, Safwat A. A, and Usama R. A. “new cytotoxic cerebrosides from the red sea cucumber Holothuria spinifera Supported by In-Silico Studies”. Mar. Drugs, vol. 18, pp. 405, doi:10.3390/md18080405. 2020.
[19] Santhanam, R., Nurul S. M. A., Ammira S. A. K., Ambrose L., Gregory D., Nur S. A. S., See W.H., Thiruventhan K., Thilahgavani N., Tengku S. T. M., and Sevakumaran V. “anticancer potential of three sea cucumber species extracts on human breast cancer cell line”. Squalen Bull. Mar. Fish. Postharvest Biotech, vol. 17, no. 2, pp. 85-94, 2022.
[20] Sirait PS, Setyaningsih I, Tarman K. “Aktivitas antikanker ekstrak Spirulina yang dikultur pada media Walne dan media organic”. Jurnal Pengolahan Hasil Perikanan Indonesia, vol. 22, no. 1, pp. 50-59. 2019.
[21] Demir, S., Turan, I., Aliyazicioglu, R., Yaman, SO., & Aliyazicioglu, Y. “Primula vulgaris extract induces cell cycle arrest and apoptosis in human cervix cancer cells”. Journal of Pharmaceutical Analysis, vol. 8, no. 5, pp. 307–311. 2018.
[22] Zhang, J. J. & Zhu, K. Q. “A novel antitumor compound nobiliside D isolated from sea cucumber (Holothuria nobilis Selenka)”, Experimental and Therapeutic Medicine, vol. 14, no. 2, pp. 1653–1658, 2017.
[23] Pérez-Espadas, A. R., Verde-Star, M. J., Rivas-Moral, C., Oranday-Caardenas, A., Morales-R, M. E, Leon-Deniz, L. V., Canul-Canche, J. & Quijano, L. “In vitro cytotoxic activity of Isostichopus badionotus, sea cucumber from Yucatan Peninsula Coast”, Journal of Pharmacy and Nutrition Sciences, vol. 4, pp. 183-186, 2014.
[24] Kandeil, M. A. and Aalaa I. Atlam. “A comparative study on hemolytic and cytotoxic perspectives of saponin from some egyptian sea cucumber species”. Egyptian Journal of Aquatic Biology & Fisheries, vol. 27, no. 1, pp. 217 – 233, 2023.
[25] Sheibani ,M, Yaser A, Maryam S, Sadaf N, Faezeh E, Mohammad H.F. & Ahmad R. D. “doxorubicin-induced cardiotoxicity: an overview on pre-clinical therapeutic approaches”, Journal of Occupational Medicine and Toxicology, vol. 22, pp. 292–310, 2022.
[26] Singh, H., Adyasha P, Khumbar D, Deb P. R. and Pradipta B. “common marine organisms: a novel source of medicinal compounds”. IJBS, vol. 7, no. 2, pp. 39-49. DOI: 10.30954/2347-9655.02.2020.1, 2020.
Published
2025-04-30
How to Cite
SUKMIWATI, Mery et al.
Anticancer activity of Stichopus vastus extract against MCF-7 and HeLa cells from Natuna waters.
JURNAL ILMU KEFARMASIAN INDONESIA, [S.l.], v. 23, n. 1, p. 97-110, apr. 2025.
ISSN 2614-6495.
Available at: <http://jifi.farmasi.univpancasila.ac.id/index.php/jifi/article/view/1631>. Date accessed: 14 june 2025.
doi: https://doi.org/10.35814/jifi.v23i1.1631.
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