Extracts from New Zealand Undaria pinnatifida Containing Fucoxanthin as Potential Functional Biomaterials against Cancer in Vitro

his study tested extractsfrom New Zealand seaweedUndaria pinnatifidacontaining fucoxanthin, in parallel with purefucoxanthin, in nine human cancer cell lines,for anticancer activity. Growth inhibition effects of extracts fromUndaria pinnatifidawerefound in all types of cancer cell lines in dose-and time- dependent manners. Cytotoxicityof fucoxanthin in three human non-cancer celllines was also tested. Compared with purefucoxanthin, our extracts containing low level of fucoxanthin were found to be moreeffective in inhibiting the growth of lung carcinoma, colon adenocarcinoma andneuroblastoma. Our results suggest that fucoxanthin is a functional biomaterial that may beused as a chemopreventive phytochemical orin combination chemotherapy. Furthermore,we show for the first time that some unknown compounds with potential selectiveanti-cancer effects may existin extracts of New ZealandUndaria pinnatifida, andNew ZealandUndaria pinnatifidacould be used as a source for either functionalbiomaterial extraction orproduction of functional food.