Anti-inflammatory and anti-cancer activities of sterol rich fraction of cultured marine microalga Nannochloropsis oculata

Five fractions separated from Nannochloropsis oculata using solvent-solvent partition chromatography of 80% methanolic extract of N. oculata (NOM) followed by the open silica column chromatography of its hexane fraction (NOMH) for the anti-inflammatory on RAW 264.7 cells and anti-cancer activities on HL-60, A-549, HEP-3B, HCT-116, and SW-480 cancer cells. All the five fractions showed potential anti-inflammatory activities against lipopolysaccharide-stimulated RAW 264.7 macrophages cells with IC50 values less than 6.25 mu g mL(-1). Moreover, 90% n-hexane column elution of NOMH (NOMH90) down-regulated lipopolysaccharide-stimulated protein levels of inducible nitric oxide synthase and cyclooxygenase-2. Furthermore, NOMH90 showed marked cytotoxic effect on the HL-60 cells with IC50 value of 23.58 +/- 0.09 mu g mL(-1). In addition, Hoechst 33342 cell permeable dye used to visualize the apoptosis nucleus and cell cycle analysis measured Sub-G1 DNA contents to confirm reduction of the cell viability in NOMH90 treated cells due to induction of apoptosis in HL60. These results are quite related to the phytosterol contents of the NOMH fractions and the results suggest N. oculata extracts might be useful as potential sources of natural anti-inflammatory and anti-cancer compounds. In conclusion, the sterol content in N. oculata might provide a promising role in future medicines in anti-inflammatory and anti-cancer.