Exploration of cytotoxic potential from marine ascidians Trididemnum clinides and Trididemnum savignii

• Main Authors: S. Mohamed Hussain, G. Ananthan, P. Sivaperumal
• Format: Publication
• Language: English
• Published: Association of Pharmaceutical Innovators 2011
• Subjects: Ascidians; Brine shrimp; Cytotoxic potential; Marine natural product

Ascidians are marine animals with a great ability to synthesize bioactive substances. This study examined the cytotoxic potential of crude methanol and ethyl acetate extract of two colonial ascidians, found in the coastal waters of Tuticorin, southeast coast of India. The extracts were tested for cytotoxicity using the brine shrimp lethality assay. Crude methanolic extract of T.clinides showed the highest toxicity (LC50 120.5 μg/ml) in brine shrimp, whereas T. savignii exhibited some toxicity in these assays, but at a lower potency than that of T. clinides. The degree of inhibition was directly proportional to the dose of test extract; it was increasedwith increasing concentration.