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Seaweed has tremendous potentials as an alternative source of high-quality food products that have attracted research in recent times, due to their abundance and diversity. In the present study, three selected seaweed species commonly found in the Malaysian Peninsular, Ulva intestinalis, Halimeda macroloba, and Sargassum ilicifolium, were subjected to preliminary chemical screening and evaluated for α-glucosidase inhibitory and cytotoxic activities against five cancer cell lines. Chemical composition of U. intestinalis, H. macroloba, and S. ilicifolium methanolic extracts was evaluated by Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS) analysis. Our results revealed the highest total carotenoids (162.00 μg g−1 DW), chlorophyll a (313.09 ± 2.53 μg g−1 DW), and chlorophyll b (292.52 ± 8.84 μg g−1 DW) concentrations in U. intestinalis. In the α-glucosidase inhibitory activity, S. ilicifolium demonstrated the lowest efficacy with an IC50 value of 38.491 ppm compared to other species of seaweed. H. macroloba extract, on the other hand, was found to be the most cytotoxic toward MCF-7 and HT 29 cells with IC50 of 37.25 ± 0.58 and 21.32 ± 0.25 μg/mL, respectively, compared to other cell lines evaluated. Furthermore, H. macroloba extract was also found to be less toxic to normal cell (3T3) with IC50 of 48.80 ± 0.11 μg/mL. U. intestinalis extract exhibited the highest cytotoxicity toward Hep G2 cells with IC50 of 23.21 ± 0.11 μg/mL, whereas S. ilicifolium was less toxic to MDA- MB231 cell with IC50 of 25.23 ± 0.11 μg/mL. Subsequently, the GC-MS analysis of the methanolic extracts of these seaweed samples led to the identification of 27 metabolites in U. intestinalis, 22 metabolites in H. macroloba, and 24 metabolites in S. ilicifolium. Taken together, the results of this present study indicated that all the seaweed species evaluated are good seaweed candidates that exhibit potential for cultivation as functional food sources for human consumption and need to be promoted.

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Antidesma montanum is commonly known as a mountain currant tree. Its fruits and leaves are utilized locally for food and traditional medicine, meanwhile the stem is used as source of wood. The fruit contains bioactive constituents of steroid glycosides, saponins, flavonoids, polyphenols and tannins that exhibited higher antioxidant activity than at certain concentrations of standard antioxidants (i.e. vitamin E, ascorbic acid, and trolox). The leave extracts known to inhibit the activities of α-amylase and α-glucosidase in diabetic therapy. Furthermore, the leave extracts also possessed scavenging activity against both hydroxyl and superoxide anion radicals, and inhibited the nitric oxide production. Meanwhile, another studies reported on the anti-inflammatory effect of Antidesma montanum, being used to treat eye diseases, and relieving chest pain. The leaves are used externally against headache and thrush in children, for diuretic and removing kidney stone, anti-dermatitis and skin disease curing effect. A tea from the leaves is used as a tonic for mothers after giving birth and applied topically to ulcers and lumbar pains. The roots are used to treat measles, chickenpox, malaria, and stomach ache. Nevertheless, extensive research is needed to confirm the reputed beneficial effects of Antidesma montanum in traditional medicine.