In vitro evaluation of the immunomodulatory and anticarcinogenic activity of the freshwater bryozoan Hyalinella punctata methanolic extract

Abstract

The immunomodulatory and anticarcinogenic activity of the freshwater bryozoan Hyalinella punctata methanolic extract (MEx) was evaluated in vitro on selected biosystems for the first time. Murine lymphocytes and macrophages were used for testing of MEx effects on cell proliferation and nitric oxide (NO) production, respectively, while human cancer cell lines were utilized for measuring its activity against cancer cells. The results suggest a strong and tissue-specific immunomodifying activity (IC50 values for inhibition of proliferation of lymph node and spleen-derived lymphocytes were 4.1 μg/ml and 9.7 μg/ml, respectively) and moderate anticancer activity of MEx (IC50 value for the MCF-7 cell line was 24.13 μg/ml). Down-regulation of macrophage NO production was also obtained. The potential use of H. punctata-derived natural products for the treatment of human chronic inflammatory diseases and cancer is worthy of further investigation.