Chitin Derivative from Marine Source Artemia franciscana Cysts Inhibits Colorectal Adenocarcinoma Cells by Regulating Apoptotic Mediators

Rajendran Poovazhagi; Subramani Thirunavukkarasu; Jeferson Stanley Santhosh; Kasi Lakshmanan; Anand Javee; Cecileya Jasmin Meshak Dhanashekaran; Narayanaswamy Radhakrishnan; Venugopal Vinod Prabhu; Kunnathur Murugesan Sakthivel; Rajan Radha Rasmi; Jiang-Shiou Hwang

Chitin Derivative from Marine Source Artemia franciscana Cysts Inhibits Colorectal Adenocarcinoma Cells by Regulating Apoptotic Mediators

Articles

Abstract

Pharmacognosy Research,2025,17,3,973-982.

DOI:10.5530/pres.20252138

Published:June 2025

Type:Original Article

Authors:

Author(s) affiliations:

Rajendran Poovazhagi¹, Subramani Thirunavukkarasu^2,*, Jeferson Stanley Santhosh⁴, Kasi Lakshmanan⁵, Anand Javee⁶, Cecileya Jasmin Meshak Dhanashekaran^7,8, Narayanaswamy Radhakrishnan⁷, Venugopal Vinod Prabhu⁸, Kunnathur Murugesan Sakthivel⁹, Rajan Radha Rasmi¹⁰, Jiang-Shiou Hwang^2,3,*

¹Quaid-e-Millath Government College for Women, University of Madras, Tamil Nadu, INDIA.

²Institute of Marine Biology, National Taiwan Ocean University, Keelung, TAIWAN.

³Center of Excellence for the Oceans, National Taiwan Ocean University, Keelung, TAIWAN.

⁴Department of Mechanical Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology Madras, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, INDIA.

⁵Department of Chemical Engineering, Algappa college of technology, Anna University, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, INDIA.

⁶Centre for Advanced Studies in Botany, University of Madras, Guindy Campus, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, INDIA.

⁷Department of Biochemistry, Saveetha Medical College and Hospital, Saveetha Institute of Medical and Technical Sciences (Deemed to be University), Thandalam, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, INDIA.

⁸School of Sciences, Department of Microbiology, P P. Savani University, Dhamdod, Kosamba, Surat, Gujarat, INDIA.

⁹Department of Biochemistry, PSG College of Arts and Science, Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu, INDIA.

¹⁰Department of Biotechnology, PSG College of Arts and Science, Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu, INDIA.

Abstract:

Background: Chitin is widely preferred in biomedical application due to its biocompatible and biodegradable nature. Naturally occurring chitin is a potential antimicrobial agent and plays a major role in degrading outer shell wall of the lower crustaceans. Naturally occurring sources of chitin are more suitable for oncological research. Objectives: In the present study, the chitin derivative isolated from marine source (Artemia franciscana cysts) is evaluated for its potential to act as a therapeutic target for colorectal adenocarcinoma. Materials and Methods: The FTIR and X-ray diffraction analysis of the isolated chitin has confirmed the presence of characteristic functional groups such as amide groups, hydroxyl groups and glycosidic linkages along with their material's crystalline structure. Results: The anticancer activity of extracted chitin derivative showed significant cytotoxic effect in this study which could be attributed to their positively charged functional groups. Further mRNA gene expression analysis has revealed that the chitin derivative also exhibited apoptotic potential against HT29 cell lines by upregulating caspase-3 and caspase-9 gene and by down regulation of B cell lymphoma-2 (Bcl-2) gene expressions. Conclusion: In conclusion the present study showed that the Artemia sp. cyst-mediated chitin derivative could be a potential anticancer agent against colorectal adenocarcinoma through their anti-proliferative activity and by activation of apoptotic pathway in HT29 cell lines