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Screening marine algae from China for their antitumor activities

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Abstract

Thirty-nine species of marine algae collected from the coast of China were screened for their antitumor activities, and eight species Leathesia difformes, Polysiphonia urcedata, Scytosiphon lomentarius, Gloiopeliis furcata, Punctaria latifolia, Symphyocladia latiuscula, Rhodomela confervoides and Ulva pertusa showed potent cytotoxic activities. Three, Rhodomela confervoides, Scytosiphon lomentarius and Gloiopeliis furcata, were used for further investigation. More than 30 compounds were isolated and purified, and 14 bromophenols, 1 steroid and 1 carotene were identified by advanced spectroscopic methods including IR, MS, and NMR techniques. Amongst the 16 identified compounds, 7 showed vigorously selective activities against KB, Bel7402 and A549 cancer cells, and 6 bromophenols were new compounds.

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Correspondence to Nianjun Xu.

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Xu, N., Fan, X., Yan, X. et al. Screening marine algae from China for their antitumor activities. J Appl Phycol 16, 451–456 (2004). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10811-004-5508-x

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10811-004-5508-x

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