Background: Bladder cancer is the tenth most common cancer worldwide, with its incidence steadily increasing globally, particularly in developed countries. Today, the rising resistance to anticancer drugs, high toxicity levels, and side effects associated with certain chemotherapeutic agents have heightened the need for novel anticancer drugs based on natural bioactive compounds.
Aim: This study investigated the antioxidant and anticancer effects of fucoidan extracted from Sargassum algae on the T24 bladder cancer cell line.
Methodology: Fucoidan was extracted from the brown alga Sargassum using the calcium chloride method and subsequently purified by dialysis. The chemical structure of the extracted fucoidan was confirmed by Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR). Finally, the antioxidant activity of the sample was evaluated using the DPPH assay, its cytotoxicity on the T24 cell line was assessed by the MTT assay, and its anti-migratory effect on bladder cancer cells was examined using the wound healing (scratch) assay.
Results: The FT-IR spectrum confirmed the presence of sulfate, fucose, and uronic acid groups. At a concentration of 50 μg/mL, fucoidan scavenged more than 81% of DPPH free radicals. In the MTT assay (after 24 hours), fucoidan reduced T24 cell viability in a dose-dependent manner, with an IC50 value of 25.7 ± 1.0 μg/mL. Moreover, fucoidan significantly inhibited the migration of cancer cells even at sub-IC50 concentrations.
Conclusions: Fucoidan extracted from Sargassum algae of the Persian Gulf exhibits strong antioxidant activity and remarkable anticancer effects (selective cytotoxicity and migration inhibition) on bladder cancer cells. This natural sulfated polysaccharide represents a promising candidate for further investigation as a potential therapeutic agent or adjuvant supplement in bladder cancer treatment.