Background:
Colorectal cancer represents one of the prominent causes of mortality worldwide
in men and women. The objective of this study was to search for new potential anticancer compounds,
both in prevention and treatment of colorectal cancer. The anticancer potential of marine bacterial
extracts against Human colorectal carcinoma cell line (HCT116) was evaluated as well as the partial
identification of bioactive metabolites.
Methods:
All bacterial extracts were tested for their cytotoxicity against HCT116 cell line by means of
MTT assay. The highly cytotoxic dichloromethane extracts of marine sponge-associated bacteria Vibrio
sp. and Bacillus sp. were analyzed by GC-MS.
Results:
Two fractions, Vib3 and Bac3, exhibited a very interesting cytotoxicity against human colorectal
carcinoma (HCT116) cell line, with a percentage of cytotoxicity of 96.04 % and 29.48 %, respectively.
Discussion:
The GC-MS analysis revealed the presence of two major fatty acids, palmitic and oleic
acids, in Vib3 fraction and fatty acid esters and phenolic compounds in Bac3 fraction.
Conclusion:
Based on previous literature, it may be hypothesized that the anticancer activity of
bacterial extracts could be, at least partially, to the fatty acids fraction.