Assessment of biomedical and pharmacological activities of sea anemones Stichodactyla mertensii andStichodactyla gigantea from Gulf of Mannar Biosphere Reserve, southeast coast of India

Thangaraj S (1), Bragadeeswaran S (1)

(1) Centre of Advanced Study in Marine Biology, Faculty of Marine Sciences, Annamalai University, Parangipettai, Tamil Nadu, India.

Abstract: Cnidarians comprise an old and diverse animal phylum, and possess a wide variety of biologically active substances. Sea anemones contain a diversity of interesting biologically active compounds including some potent toxins. In the present work, the sea anemones Stichodactyla mertensii and Stichodactyla gigantea, collected from the Mandapam coast, are characterized biomedically and pharmacologically. The crude protein was obtained by using methanol and aqueous extracts. The respective protein contents of S. mertensii andS. gigantea were found to be 2.10 µg/mL and 1.87 µg/mL. The methanol and aqueous extracts of S. mertensii andS. gigantea yielded six and nine bands by SDS-PAGE on 12% gel. In the hemolytic assay, both extracts exhibited hemolytic effect on chicken, goat, cow and human erythrocytes ('A', 'B' and 'O'). The neurotoxic effects of these crude extracts were determinedin vivo using the sea shore crab Ocypode macrocera and mortality was observed. The mouse bioassay for lethality was performed on male albino mice. The crude extract of S. mertensii showed higher lethality (58 seconds at 1 mL-dose) than that of S. gigantea (2 minutes and 10 seconds at 0.75 mL-dose). The analgesic activity test was also carried out on albino mice by Eddy’s hot plate and tail-flick methods. The extracts showed moderate analgesic effect by both hot-plate and tail-flick methods. These characteristics emphasize the need for the isolation and molecular characterization of new active toxins in S. mertensii andS. gigantea.

Key words: aqueous extract, neurotoxicity, mouse bioassay, analgesic activity.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

The authors thank Prof. T. Balasubramanian, Dean, CAS in Marine Biology and the administration of Annamalai University for providing necessary facilities.

COPYRIGHT

© CEVAP 2012

SUBMISSION STATUS

Received: June 13, 2011.

Accepted: August 19, 2011.

Abstract published online: October 6, 2011.

Full paper published online: February 28, 2012.

CONFLICTS OF INTEREST

The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

FINANCIAL SOURCE

The state of Department of Biotechnology and DST-SERC-Fast Tract Project provided the financial grants.

ETHICS COMMITTEE APPROVAL

The present study was approved by the statement of the Institutional Ethics Committee of Rajah Muthiah Medical College, Annamalai University, Annamalai Nagar, India (registration number 160/1999/CPCSEA/11.01.2008).

CORRESPONDENCE TO

S. Bragadeeswaran, Centre of Advanced Study in Marine Biology, Parangipettai, 608 502, Tamil Nadu, India. Phone: +91 4144 243223. Mobile: +91 9894823364. Email: drpragathi@gmail.com.