Cytotoxic Activity of Some Marine Algae Collected from the Coast of Sidi bouzid (El Jadida-Morocco)

Marine algae are a source of compound endowed with ingenious structure and potential biological activities. Cytotoxicity of algae is considered as the presence of antitumor compounds. In this study, Dichloromethane/Methanol extracts of sixteen species seaweeds (6 species of Rhodophyta, 8 species of Phaeophyta and 2 species of Chlorophyta) collected from the Atlantic coast of Sidi Bouzid El Jadida-Morocco were evaluated for their cytotoxic activity using the test of brine shrimp lethality for larvae and then the most cytotoxic active species were tested on KB cells line. In this screening, the best cytotoxic activity was observed in 4 Rhodophyta (Bornetia secundiflora, Caulacanthus ustulatus, Gelidium sesquipedale and Corallina elongata.) and 4 Phaeophyta (Cystoseira humilis, Fucus spirais, Sacchoriza bulbosa, Laminaria ochroleuca). Cystoseira humilis showed the highest cytotoxic activity; therefore, the purification and characterization of cytotoxic compound from this specie were realized and the hydroperoxy-24 vinyl-24 cholesterol was isolated and identified as responsible of this activity.