Antitumor activity of <i>Chlorella sorokiniana</i> and <i>Scenedesmus</i> sp. microalgae native of Nuevo León State, México

Abstract

Cancer cases result in 13% of all deaths worldwide. Unwanted side effects in patients under conventional treatments have led to the search for beneficial alternative therapies. Microalgae synthesize compounds with known <i>in vitro</i> and <i>in vivo</i> biological activity against different tumor cell lines. Therefore, native microalgae from the State of Nuevo Leon, Mexico may become a potential source of antitumor agents. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the <i>in vitro</i> cytotoxic effect of Nuevo Leon regional <i>Chlorella sorokiniana</i> (Chlorellales: Chlorellaceae) and <i>Scenedesmus</i> sp. (Chlorococcales: Scenedesmaceae). Native microalgae crude organic extracts cytotoxicity against murine L5178Y-R lymphoma cell line and normal lymphocyte proliferation were evaluated using the MTT reduction colorimetric assay. Cell death pathway was analyzed by acridine orange and ethidium bromide staining, DNA degradation in 2% agarose gel electrophoresis and caspases activity. Results indicated significant (<i>p</i> < 0.05) 61.89% ± 3.26% and 74.77% ± 1.84% tumor cytotoxicity by <i>C. sorokiniana</i> and <i>Scenedesmus</i> sp. methanol extracts, respectively, at 500 µg/mL, by the mechanism of apoptosis. This study contributes to Mexican microalgae biodiversity knowledge and their potential as antitumor agent sources.