مرکز تحقیقات بیولوژی کاربردی تکوین جانوری

Objective: To isolate and characterize the saponin from Persian Gulf brittle star (Ophiocoma
erinaceus) and to evaluate its hemolytic and cytotoxic potential.
Methods: In an attempt to prepare saponin from brittle star, collected samples were minced
and extracted with ethanol, dichloromethane, n-buthanol. Then, concentrated n-butanol
extract were loaded on HP-20 resin and washed with dionized water, 80% ethanol and 100%
ethanol respectively. Subsequently, detection of saponin was performed by foaming property,
fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and hemolytic analysis on thin layer chromatography.
The cytotoxic activity on HeLa cells was evaluated through 3-[4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl]-2,5-
diphenyltetrazoliumbromide (MTT) assay and under invert microscopy.
Results: The existence of saponin in Ophiocoma erinaceus were approved by phytochemical
method. The presence of C-H bond, C-O-C and OH in fourier transform infrared spectrum of
fraction 80% ethanol is characteristic feature in the many of saponin compounds. Hemolytic assay
revealed HD50 value was 500 µg/mL. MTT assay exhibited that saponin extracted in IC50 value of
25 µg/mL inducsd potent cytotoxic activity against HeLa cells in 24 h and 12.5 µg/mL in 48 h,
meanwhile in lower concentration did not have considerable effect against HeLa cells.
Conclusions: These findings showed that only 80% ethanol fraction Persian Gulf brittle star
contained saponin like compounds with hemolytic activity which can be detected simply by
phytochemical that can be appreciable for future anticancer research