In vitro Anticancer and Antioxidant Activity of Partially Purified Polysaccharides from Marine Bivalves Against Human Lung Cancer Cell Lines (A549 and NCI-H460)

Marine-derived bioactive polysaccharide have aroused extensive attention because of their potential nutritional and therapeutic benefits. Polysaccharides from marine molluscs have high potential as promising candidates for drug development. In this study, partially purified polysaccharide from various bivalve species were investigated for its bioactivity. Enzyme assisted extraction technique was applied for polysaccharide extraction from marine bivalves. Five papain released crude polysaccharide extracts were prepared from four clams (Donax variabilis, Donax incarnatus, Donax cuneatus, Sunetta scripta) and one mussel (Perna viridis). Initially, all five species were subjected to biochemical and proximate analyses. Five distinct partially purified polysaccharide extracts were tested in vitro for antioxidant and anticancer properties. The cytotoxicity and cell viability of five marine bivalve extracts was investigated in normal (Vero) and two lung cancer cell lines (lung adenocarcinoma (A549) and lung large cell carcinoma (NCI-H460)). In the performed antioxidant assays, almost all the polysaccharide extracts showed strong antioxidant activity in a dose dependent manner. Likewise, all the five polysaccharide extracts showed significant inhibitory effects on growth of human lung cancer cells. In particular, polysaccharide from clam Donax variabilis showed high activity in the growth inhibition of both non-small cell lung cancers. This research can be considered as the foundation for the development of a new marine-derived drug whose biological activity can be assessed by further purification and characterization of the active bio-compound.