Cancer chemopreventive effects of Korean seaweed extracts

Abstract

Cancer chemopreventive effects can be exerted through the induction of phase 11 detoxification enzymes and the inhibition of inflammatory responses. In this study, the cancer chemopreventive effects and anti-inflannnatory responses of 30 seaweed extracts were examined. The extracts of Dictyota coriacea and Culteria cylindrica exhibited the high cherrioprevention index, having 4.36 and 4.66, respectively. They also activated antioxidant response element at 100 mu g/mL by about 3-fold while did not activate xenobiotic response element. Seven seaweed extracts, Ishige okamurae, Desinarestia ligulala, Desmarestia viridis, Dictyopleris divaricata, D. coriacea, Sargassum horneri, and Sargassum yezoense, showed significant inhibition on nitric oxide (NO) and prostaglandin E-2 (PGE(2)) production in a dose-dependant manner in 5-20 mu g/mL. These seaweed extracts could be used as food materials for cancer chenioprevention. D. coriacea could contain potential chemopreventive agents not only that regulate genes via an ARE-dependent mechanism but also prevent the inflammation through inhibition of NO and PGE2 production.