Cytotoxicity and mechanisms of cell death of selected marine sponges on human breast cancer cell line, MCF-7

Abstract

Breast cancer is the most frequently diagnosed cancers among women worldwide. However, to date, research is still ongoing to find alternative drugs to the current chemotherapeutic drugs available in the market. Marine environment offers vast diversity of living organisms that provide compounds with impressive structural diversity, highly specific biological activities and drug-like properties. Therefore, the main aim of this study was to determine the cytotoxic effects and mechanisms of cell death exerted by marine sponges on human breast cancer cell line, MCF-7. In this study, six marine sponges from four species, namely Aaptos sp., Stryphuous ponderosus., Theonella sp., and Xestospongia sp., were used.