Polysaccharide extracted from the Sargassum fusiforme induces cell cycle arrest and apoptosis of B16F10 melanoma cells through the PI3K/AKT pathway

Background. Sargassum fusiforme ( S. fusiforme ) is a brown alga that has been utilized as a medicine for a long time. Polysaccharides extracted from S. fusiforme demonstrate antitumor activities. Methods The impact of S. fusiforme polysaccharides (SFPS 191,212) on the proliferation, apoptosis, and cell cycle kinetics of B16F10 murine melanoma cells were thoroughly investigated in this work. The anticancer activities of the SFPS 191,212 compounds were assayed in the B16F10 cells at both transcriptional and translational levels. Results The compound exhibited concentration-dependent effects. Moreover, SPFS 191,212 increased the numbers of apoptotic cells and arrested the cell cycle in the S phase of the quantitative real-time PCR. From western blotting, it was verified that the SFPS 191,212 treatment improved the expression of Bax, Caspase-9, and Caspase-3 genes and proteins, while it reduced phosphatidylinositol 3 kinase and Bcl-2 genes and proteins, suggesting the involvement of mitochondria. Conclusion Overall, SFPS 191,212 can be further explored as a potential functional food or adjuvant agent for the prevention or treatment of melanoma.