Extracts From New Zealand Undaria Pinnatifida Containing Fucoxanthin As Potential Functional Biomaterials Against Cancer in Vitro

Date
2014
Authors
Wang, SK
Li, Y
White, WL
Lu, J
Supervisor
Item type
Journal Article
Degree name
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
MDPI
Abstract

This study tested extracts from New Zealand seaweed Undaria pinnatifida containing fucoxanthin, in parallel with pure fucoxanthin, in nine human cancer cell lines, for anticancer activity. Growth inhibition effects of extracts from Undaria pinnatifida were found in all types of cancer cell lines in dose- and time- dependent manners. Cytotoxicity of fucoxanthin in three human non-cancer cell lines was also tested. Compared with pure fucoxanthin, our extracts containing low level of fucoxanthin were found to be more effective in inhibiting the growth of lung carcinoma, colon adenocarcinoma and neuroblastoma. Our results suggest that fucoxanthin is a functional biomaterial that may be used as a chemopreventive phytochemical or in combination chemotherapy. Furthermore, we show for the first time that some unknown compounds with potential selective anti-cancer effects may exist in extracts of New Zealand Undaria pinnatifida, and New Zealand Undaria pinnatifida could be used as a source for either functional biomaterial extraction or production of functional food.

Description
Keywords
Fucoxanthin; Undaria pinnatifida; Anti-cancer; New Zealand seaweed; Extract
Source
Journal of Functional Biomaterials, vol.5(2), pp.29 - 42
Rights statement
This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY 3.0).