Zoo-chemical profile analysis and cytotoxicity screening of five marine sponge species collected from Andaman and Nicobar Islands

Abstract

Marine environment with vast diversity is a great natural source of many important bioactive compounds of medicinal value. In the present study, five marine sponges i.e. <em>Hyrtios erectus</em>,<em> Pseudoceratina purpurea</em>,<em> Carteriospongia foliascens</em>,<em> Stylissa carteri </em>and <em>Axinella acanthelloides </em>were collected from eastern coast of Andaman sea around South Andaman group of islands and their zoo-chemical profiles were analyzed. The <em>in-vitro</em> cytotoxic potential of the five sponge species against breast carcinoma cell line was evaluated. Alkaloid was the major zoo-chemical constituent of the sponges. Among the five sponge species studied, <em>Hyrtios </em>showed most promising cytotoxic effect against breast carcinoma cell line. Hexane extract of sponge inhibited the proliferation of the MCF-7 cell line. IC₅₀ value was 25 &micro;g per ml. The IC₅₀ values of all the solvent extracts of all the four sponges were higher than 100 &micro;g per ml. In conclusion, the sponge <em>Hyrtios </em>has huge pharmaceutical potential in the treatment of breast cancer.