Genotoxicity and cytotoxicity evaluation of brown algae (Cystoseira indica) extract in human gingival fibroblast (HGF) and lung cancer cell lines (A549)

Abstract

Cancer, particularly lung cancer, remains a leading cause of mortality worldwide, highlighting the need for new remedies. The brown algae species, C. indica, has gained attention for its rich phytochemical composition and pharmacological potential. This study evaluated the genotoxic and cytotoxic effects of C. indica extract on human gingival fibroblast (HGF) and lung cancer (A549) cell lines. Algae materials were extracted using sequential maceration, and fucoxanthin content was determined via High-Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC). Cytotoxic and genotoxic effects were assessed using MTT and comet assays, with statistical analyses performed using GraphPad Prism software. The algal sample contained 3.077 μg of fucoxanthin per 1g in n-hexane-acetone extract and 4.32 μg of fucoxanthin per 1g in ethanolic extract. n-Hexane-acetone and cold water extracts at 5000 µg/mL concentration exhibited the highest antioxidant activities in the DPPH assay with IC₅₀ values of 306.15 ± 18.46 μg/mL and 8370 ± 2460 μg/mL, respectively. n-Hexane-acetone extract induced 50.66% apoptosis and hot water extract caused 54.97% apoptosis at 100 µg/mL. C. indica offers unique metabolites with potential pharmaceutical applications, especially as cytotoxic agents against cancer. The n-hexane-acetone extract, rich in flavonoids and phenolics, showed significant antioxidant and anticancer effects, inducing notable apoptosis in A549 cancer cells, suggesting further investigation for anticancer use.