Hypnea musciformis ‐mediated Ag/AgCl‐NPs inhibit pathogenic bacteria, HCT‐116 and MCF‐7 cells’ growth in vitro and Ehrlich ascites carcinoma cells in vivo in mice

Abstract

In the present study, Ag/AgCl-NPs were biosynthesised using Hypnea musciformis seaweed extract; NPs synthesis was confirmed by a change of colour and observation of a razor-sharp peak at 424 nm by UV-visible spectroscopy. Synthesised nanoparticles were characterised by transmission electron microscopy, energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, X-ray powder diffraction and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. Bacterial cell growth inhibition proves that the Ag/AgCl-NPs have strong antibacterial activity and cell morphological alteration was observed in treated bacterial cells using propidium iodide (PI). Ag/AgCl-NPs inhibited Ehrlich ascites carcinoma (EAC) cells, colorectal cancer (HCT-116) and breast cancer (MCF-7) cell line in vitro with the IC 50 values of 40.45, 24.08 and 36.95 μg/ml, respectively. Initiation of apoptosis in HCT-116 and MCF-7 cells was confirmed using PI, FITC-annexin V and Hoechst 33342 dye. No reaction oxygen species generation was observed in both treated and untreated cell lines. A significant increase of ATG-5 gene expression indicates the possibility of autophagy cell death besides apoptosis in MCF-7 cells. The initiation of apoptosis in EAC cells was confirmed by observing caspase-3 protein expression. Ag/AgCl-NPs inhibited 22.83% and 51% of the EAC cell growth in vivo in mice when administered 1.5 and 3.0 mg/kg/day (i.p.), respectively, for 5 consequent days.

Influence of Silver Nanoparticles on the Growth of Ascitic and Solid Ehrlich Adenocarcinoma: Focus on Copper Metabolism

“…Several cases of successful use of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) for the inhibition of the growth of Ehrlich ascites in vivo and several cancer cell lines in cell cultures have been reported [44][45][46][47][48]. There is no universally accepted concept that would explain the action of AgNPs up to date.…”

Transcriptome and proteome analysis reveals the anti-cancer properties of Hypnea musciformis marine macroalga extract in liver and intestinal cancer cells

“…Although HME-induced significant apoptosis in both cancer cell lines, apoptotic cells were not the majority of total cells at any time point of treatment, suggesting that HME may induce cancer cell death through apoptosis along with other programmed cell death forms (e.g., ferroptosis, necroptosis and pyroptosis) or autophagy. Interestingly, Ghose et al, have recently shown that H. musciformis extract inhibited MCF-7 breast cancer cell growth through autophagy besides apoptosis [ 12 ].…”

“…Since NF-κB antagonizes p53 [ 74 ], its inhibition by the upregulated NFKBIA would further enhance our observed p53 signature in HepG2 cells. Interestingly, NF-κB was not responsible for H. musciformis extract-induced apoptosis in MCF-7 breast cancer cells [ 12 ]. Nevertheless, other seaweed extracts have also been reported to regulate cancer progression through attenuation of the p53-NF-kB antagonistic axis [ 75 ].…”

“…Carrageenans from H. musciformis have been shown to inhibit breast cancer and neuroblastoma cell proliferation highlighting their anti-carcinogenic potential [ 10 ]. Moreover, administration of compounds from H. musciformis to a mouse model of Ehrlich ascites carcinoma resulted in the decrease of tumor size through increase of apoptotic molecules (e.g., p53, Bax, Caspase 3) [ 9 , 12 ]. In addition, H. musciformis extract inhibited chemical-induced carcinogenesis in animal experimental models indicating a chemo-preventive activity [ 8 ].…”

“…Even though screening for colon cancer has decreased its frequency and mortality, chemoprevention may be used to decrease it even further or to impede its post-treatment recurrence [ 14 ]. Interestingly, H. musciformis extracts have been shown to inhibit HCT-116 colon cancer cells growth [ 12 ].…”