Partially Purified Extracts of Sea Anemone Anemonia viridis Affect the Growth and Viability of Selected Tumour Cell Lines

Antiproliferative, Antioxidant, Chemopreventive and Antiangiogenic Potential of Chromatographic Fractions from Anemonia sulcata with and without Its Symbiont Symbiodinium in Colorectal Cancer Therapy

Anemonia sulcata may be a source of marine natural products (MNPs) due to the antioxidant and antitumor activity of its crude homogenates shown in vitro in colon cancer cells. A bioguided chromatographic fractionation assay of crude Anemonia sulcata homogenates with and without its symbiont Symbiodinium was performed to characterize their bioactive composition and further determine their biological potential for the management of colorectal cancer (CRC). The 20% fractions retained the in vitro antioxidant activity previously reported for homogenates. As such, activation of antioxidant and detoxifying enzymes was also evaluated. The 40% fractions showed the greatest antiproliferative activity in T84 cells, synergistic effects with 5-fluoruracil and oxaliplatin, overexpression of apoptosis-related proteins, cytotoxicity on tumorspheres, and antiangiogenic activity. The predominantly polar lipids and toxins tentatively identified in the 20% and 40% fractions could be related to their biological activity in colon cancer cells although further characterizations of the active fractions are necessary to isolate and purify the bioactive compounds.

Cytotoxic effect of sea anemone pore-forming toxin on K562 chronic myeloid leukemia cells

Chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML) is one of prevalent cancer worldwide. In spite of various designed drugs, chemoresistance remains the main obstacle in cancer cure. Therefore, developing novel strategy for treatment of CML is an urgent need. Fragaceatoxin C (FraC) is novel protein toxin from a sea anemone called actinia fragacea with great impacts against cells by pore formation and disturbing cell membrane integrity. The aim of this study was evaluation of FraC toxin toxicity against K562. The bacteria cells harboring expression‌‌‌‌‌‌‌ vector of FraC were induced by IPTG and purified by Ni²⁺-NTA sepharose affinity chromatography. Then, purified toxin activity was evaluated using RBC hemolytic test. Eventually, evaluation of FraC cytotoxicity and apoptosis were performed using MTT and flow cytometery assays, respectively. Our results revealed that FraC toxin decreased K562 cells viability in a dose- and time-dependent manner with a whole destroy of cancer cells at 35.00 µg mL^-1 after 72 hr. Furthermore, flow cytometery analysis indicated that FraC toxin enhanced necrosis along with apoptosis in K562 cells in a dose dependent manner. We speculated that FraC toxin could be considered as a novel candidate for cancer cell researches and treatments provided that it should be turned into a specific agent by engineering and directing to cancer cell membrane.

Anemonia sulcata and Its Symbiont Symbiodinium as a Source of Anti-Tumor and Anti-Oxoxidant Compounds for Colon Cancer Therapy: A Preliminary in Vitro Study

Simple Summary

Colorectal cancer is one of the most frequent types of cancer in the population. Recently, invertebrate marine animals have been investigated for the presence of natural products which can damage tumor cells, prevent their spread to other tissues or avoid cancer develop. We analyzed the anemone Anemonia sulcata with and without the presence of its microalgal symbiont (Symbiodinium) as a source of bioactive molecules for the colorectal cancer therapy and prevention. Colon cancer tumor cells were exposed to Anemone extracts observing a remarkable cell death and a great antioxidant capacity. These preliminary results support that Anemonia sulcata could be a source of bioactive compounds against colorectal cancer and that the absence of its symbiont may enhance these properties. Further studies will be necessary to define the bioactive compounds of Anemonia sulcata and their mechanisms of action.

Abstract

Recently, invertebrate marine species have been investigated for the presence of natural products with antitumor activity. We analyzed the invertebrate Anemonia sulcata with (W) and without (W/O) the presence of its microalgal symbiont Symbiodinium as a source of bioactive compounds that may be applied in the therapy and/or prevention of colorectal cancer (CRC). Animals were mechanically homogenized and subjected to ethanolic extraction. The proximate composition and fatty acid profile were determined. In addition, an in vitro digestion was performed to study the potentially dialyzable fraction. The antioxidant and antitumor activity of the samples and the digestion products were analyzed in CRC cells in vitro. Our results show a high concentration of polyunsaturated fatty acid in the anemone and a great antioxidant capacity, which demonstrated the ability to prevent cell death and a high antitumor activity of the crude homogenates against CRC cells and multicellular tumor spheroids, especially W/O symbiont. These preliminary results support that Anemonia sulcata could be a source of bioactive compounds with antioxidant and antitumor potential against CRC and that the absence of its symbiont may enhance these properties. Further studies will be necessary to define the bioactive compounds of Anemonia sulcata and their mechanisms of action.

The Anemonia viridis Venom: Coupling Biochemical Purification and RNA-Seq for Translational Research

Blue biotechnologies implement marine bio-resources for addressing practical concerns. The isolation of biologically active molecules from marine animals is one of the main ways this field develops. Strikingly, cnidaria are considered as sustainable resources for this purpose, as they possess unique cells for attack and protection, producing an articulated cocktail of bioactive substances. The Mediterranean sea anemone Anemonia viridis has been studied extensively for years. In this short review, we summarize advances in bioprospecting of the A. viridis toxin arsenal. A. viridis RNA datasets and toxin data mining approaches are briefly described. Analysis reveals the major pool of neurotoxins of A. viridis, which are particularly active on sodium and potassium channels. This review therefore integrates progress in both RNA-Seq based and biochemical-based bioprospecting of A. viridis toxins for biotechnological exploitation.

Cnidarian Jellyfish: Ecological Aspects, Nematocyst Isolation, and Treatment Methods of Sting

Cnidarians play an important role in ecosystem functioning, in the competition among species, and for possible utilization of several active compounds against cardiovascular, nervous, endocrine, immune, infective, and inflammatory disorders or having antitumoral properties, which have been extracted from these organisms. Nevertheless, notwithstanding these promising features, the main reason for which cnidarians are known is due to their venomousness as they have a serious impact on public health as well as in economy being able to affect some human activities. For this reason a preeminent subject of the research about cnidarians is the organization of proper systems and methods of care and treatment of stinging. This chapter aims to present the data about the morphological, ecological, toxicological, epidemiological, and therapeutic aspects regarding cnidarians with the purpose to summarize the existing knowledge and to stimulate future perspectives in the research on these organisms.

Partially Purified Gloriosa superba Peptides Inhibit Colon Cancer Cell Viability by Inducing Apoptosis Through p53 Upregulation

BACKGROUND

Colon cancer is a major health problem worldwide. Available treatments such as surgery, chemotherapy, radiation and anticancer drugs are limited due to stage of cancer, side effects and altered biodistribution. The use of peptides extracted from natural products has appeared as a potential therapy. Gloriosa superba is known to contain colchicine and other alkaloids with anticancer activity. However, these peptides contained within the extracts have not been studied. This study, therefore, focuses on an investigation of anti-colon cancer activity from a partially purified protein hydrolysate of G superba rhizome.

METHODS

Dried G superba rhizome was extracted using 0.5% sodium dodecyl sulfate and digested with pepsin. The protein hydrolysates with molecular weight lesser than 3kDa were collected and subjected for cell viability assay. Then, the partial purification of the protein hydrolysate was performed using reverse-phase high-performance liquid chromatography. Fractions containing anticancer peptides were investigated, and their effects on apoptosis and protein expression using apoptosis test and Western blot, respectively.

RESULTS

Partially purified peptides of G superba rhizome demonstrated anticolon activity in SW620 cells by inducing apoptosis through upregulation of p53 and downregulation of nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB).

CONCLUSIONS

Consequently, G superba peptides showed high potential for further purification and development of anticolon therapeutics.