Cytotoxic effects of the fucoidan extracted from Persian Gulf brown algae Sargassum ilicifoliuminducing apoptosis in breast cancer cell line

Algae as a new potential sources and active agents, have attracted many researchers in the field of pharmaceutical, medical and nutrition. Sargassum ilicifolium a seaweed that grows in the coastal and northern regions of the Persian Gul, may have unique nutritional and pharmaceutical effects because of fucoidan, one of the polysaccharides found in this seaweed. This survey, after extraction of fucoidan, have been conducted on its anticancer effects such as MTT assay, cell culture, viability and apoptosis. According to the results, within 24 h, cell viability at 1mg/ml of the extract reduced by 2% and at concentration of 60 mg/ml, reduced less than 30% and the IC50 was 20-30 mg/ml. Also the results obtained from ELISA showed apoptosis was induced by the extract on cancer cells.