Cytotoxic activity of hexane and dichloromethane parts of methanol extract of Ircinia mutans sponge on three human cancer cell lines

Sponges are the most primitive multicellular eukaryotic organisms and sessile without defense organs therefore, they produce different secondary metabolites to protect themselves from predators and pathogens in their environment. This study aims to evaluation of cytotoxic properties of hexane and dichloromethane parts of methanol extract of the sponge (Ircinia mutans), collected from Larak Island. Hexane and dichloromethane parts were extracted by liquid-liquid extraction from methanol extract then tested by MTT colorimetric assay on three cancer cell lines MOLT-4, MCF-7 and HT-29. The hexane part with IC50 value 11.53 ± 1.3, 41.64 ± 3.5 and 14.57 ± 1.5 μg/mL, and the dichloromethane part with IC50 value 12.51 ± 0.8, 26.6 ± 2.2 and 7.47 ± 0.97 μg/mL respectively, on three mentioned cell line showed moderate to strong cytotoxic activity on all three cancer cell lines. The results also indicate that the dichloromethane part has stronger cytotoxic activity than the hexane part. This study's findings showed the potential of Persian Gulf sponges as valuable sources of new anti-cancer compounds.