Cytostatic activity of hot water extracts from the sea cucumber in Caco-2

Sea cucumber is a traditional food item in Asia and has been reported to exhibit antifungal, antitumor, and antioxidant bioactivity as well as other properties. In this study, sea cucumbers were treated with hot water at 98 degrees C for 60 min to prepare extracts that were then used to assess their effect on the proliferation and H2O2 susceptibility of human colon adenocarcinoma Caco-2 cells. The growth of Caco-2 cells was significantly inhibited by sea cucumber extracts in a dose dependent manner. Cell proliferation was inhibited by high molecular weight sea cucumber extract at a concentration of 0.108 mg/mL. No growth was observed at 1.04 mg/mL of the hot water extract after 96 h incubation. Cell damage by sea cucumber extract was evident above 1 mg/mL. H2O2 showed concentration dependent cytotoxity to Caco-2 cells. In addition, coadministration of sea cucumber extracts intensified the H2O2 cytotoxicity.