Phytochemical Investigation and Cytotoxicity of Isolated Compounds from Marine Coral Sarcophyton Pisnilata Collected from the Persian Gulf on Hela Cancer Cells

Abstract

Background: Marine organisms are an important source of bioactive metabolites. These organisms produce unique compounds with specific biological activities. Research has shown that corals can play a potential role in drug development, especially anti-cancer drugs. The Persian Gulf is one of the largest shelters for marine organisms such as corals, sea sponges, all kinds of edible fish, non-edible fish, and many other aquatic creatures. Methods: Marine coral Sarcophyton pisnilata was collected and extracted using methanol: ethyl acetate solvent (1:1). Separation and isolation of different coral compounds was done by various chromatographic methods, such as normal-phase silica gel column and high-performance chromatography (HPLC). Silica gel column chromatography was performed using hexane: ethyl acetate solvent as the mobile phase and washed in a gradient manner. Then, isolated compounds were identified using different NMR identification methods, as well as mass spectrometry (MS) methods. Next, the cytotoxicity of these compounds was studied against HeLa cancer cells using the MTT assay method. Findings: Three sulfoquinosyl diacylglyceride (SQDG) compounds were identified. Also, compounds 1 to 3 showed cytotoxic results on cancer cells, IC50 of them was 12.2 ± (2.3), 25.8 ± (3.7), 14.9 ± (2.6), 9.8 ± (1.2), and 5.6 ± (1.2) μM, respectively. Conclusion: Isolated compounds from Sarcophyton pisnilata showed vigorous cytotoxic activity against Hela cells in vitro. © 2025 Isfahan University of Medical Sciences(IUMS). All rights reserved.