TWO ALGAE FROM OMAN SEA: THE IN VITRO BIOLOGICAL EFFECTS

Algae are extensively used in cosmetics, supplements and pharmaceutical industries. Researches support their hypotensive, cytotoxic, anti-inflammatory and many other biologic effects. In the present study, the cytotoxic, antioxidant and acetylcholinesterase inhibitory activities of two brown algae, Padina tetrastromatica and P. australis, have been evaluated. Total extract was prepared using methanol 80%. The extracts were evaluated for antioxidant and acetylcholinesterase inhibitory activity and cytotoxic properties against A-549, HT-29, HepG-2 and MCF-7 cell lines through DPPH, Ellman and MTT assays, respectively. The results revealed that P. australis with the IC₅₀ value of 163.9μg/mL demonstrated stronger antioxidant activity compared to P. tetrastromatica (IC₅₀ 259.1μg/mL) in DPPH assay. Neither of the total extracts showed cytotoxic activity up to the maximum amount examined (100μg/mL). The total extracts of P. australis and P. tetrastromatica in concentration of 300μg/mL presented 15.6% and 23.7% enzyme inhibition in Ellman assay, respectively. It was concluded that the two algae have shown weak antioxidant and acetylcholinesterase inhibitory activity and their further use in prevention and treatment of diseases needs more investigations especially in the field of isolation of active compounds.