Gastrointestinal and hepatotoxicity assessment of an anticancer extract from muricid molluscs.

Marine molluscs from the family Muricidae are under development as a potential medicinal food for the prevention of colon cancer and treatment of gynaecological cancers. Here we report the outcome of the first in vivo toxicity assessment on an anticancer extract from a muricid mollusc containing brominated indole derivatives. Mice received the concentrated lipophilic extract by daily oral gavage over a two-week period. Mortality or clinical toxicity symptoms resulting from the extract were not detected during the trial, and there was no difference in the body weight of treated and control mice at the end of the trial. Histological analysis revealed some evidence for mild, idiosyncratic effects on the gastrointestinal tract and liver, including necrosis, fatty change, and inflammation in a small proportion (<40%) of mice. This is likely to result from first-pass hepatic metabolism of tyrindoxyl sulphate combined with second-pass metabolism of indoles. Overall however, oral administration of muricid extract containing brominated indoles does not result in severe clinical toxicity.

Enhanced acute apoptotic response to azoxymethane-induced DNA damage in the rodent colonic epithelium by Tyrian purple precursors: a potential colorectal cancer chemopreventative.

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the second most prevalent and deadly cancer worldwide. Due to the mortality and morbidity associated with chemotherapeutic regimes, research is turning to natural product enhancement of the acute apoptotic response to genotoxic carcinogens (AARGC). Although Tyrian purple dye pigments and precursors from muricid molluscs are known for their anti-proliferative and proapoptotic activity, the chemoprotective properties of these edible molluscs has not been assessed. Enhancement of AARGC by oral administration of muricid extract (ME), containing a mixture of the cytotoxins tyrindoleninone and 6-bromoisatin, was assessed in an azoxymethane (AOM) rodent model. A dose-dependent increase in apoptotic index was observed in the distal colon, with a significant increase detected at an ME dose of 1.0 mg/g (p < 0.01). Proliferation (PCNA) index failed to vary significantly at this ME concentration, which confirms the ME-induced increase in apoptotic response to DNA alkylation. ME also appears to confer no major toxic side effects, as all mice consistently gained weight during the trial and colonic crypt height was maintained (p > 0.05) independent of ME dose. Although, this is the first example of AARGC enhancement by indole-based compounds, bioactive precursor degradation in simulated gastric fluid may prevent introduction of muricids as a chemopreventative food. Nevertheless, the protective effect of ME against CRC in vivo clearly substantiates further research into the chemopreventative efficacy of Muricidae natural products.