Background:
Codium intricatum, locally known as Pukpuklo, is a seasonal and edible green
alga found in Ilocos Norte, Philippines. In this study, the biochemical content, cytotoxic and inhibitory
potential against Matrix Metalloproteinase-1 (MMP-1) production of the polysaccharide-protein fractions
from C. intricatum is first reported. MMPs are novel targets for therapeutic intervention with the
potential to inhibit tumor growth, metastasis and invasion either on their own or in conjunction with
cytotoxic treatments.
Methods:
Water-soluble Crude Polysaccharide (CP) and its fractions (CFs) from C. intricatum were
isolated using hot water and ion-exchange chromatography and analyzed using different analytical techniques.
Cytotoxicity against MCF-7 breast cancer cells and Human normal Dermal Fibroblasts (HnDFs)
was determined by MTT assay. The MMP-1 inhibitory potential was tested in UVB exposed Human
normal Dermal Fibroblast Cells.
Results:
CP and CFs afforded carbohydrates (2.07-16.1%), sulfates (1.81%- 9.9%), protein (0.05-2.7%),
ash (<77.2%), lipids (<1.0%) and uronic acid (0.15- 4.49%). FT- IR and NMR spectra of CP and CFs
exhibited absorption peaks comparable to sulfated galactans. Both CP and CFs significantly inhibited
the growth of breast cancer (MCF-7) in a concentration-dependent manner (p<0.05), induced proliferation
of HnDFs, inhibited the production of Matrix metalloproteinase-1 (MMP-1) in UV-B induced
HnDFs (p<0.05).
Conclusion:
Results are highly suggestive that polysaccharide fractions from C. intricatum are bioactive
molecules with cytotoxic and anti-metastasis potential.
Overexpression of matrix metalloproteinase 1 in dermal fibroblasts from DNA repair-deficient/cancer-prone xeroderma pigmentosum group C patients
