Bioactive potential and chemical characterization of Planaxis sulcatus (Phylum: Mollusca, Family: Planaxidae) solvent extracts

The world urgently needs to discover new drugs to meet the challenges that threaten human health. Marine molluscs are known as natural sources of various bioactive compounds. In the present study, to evaluate the biological activity of the marine snail Planaxis sulcatus, soft tissues of the snail were extracted using acetone (Me₂CO), ethanol (EtOH) and ethyl acetate (EtOAc). All extracts were tested for their total antioxidant capacity, total phenolic and DPPH free radical scavenging activity. The extracts were also tested in vitro for their antimicrobial activities. The results showed that, EtOAc extract of P. sulcatus had the highest antioxidant capacity and total phenolic content, followed by acetone extract. Concerning antimicrobial and antibiofilm activities of tested extracts, EtOH extract showed a good antimicrobial and antibiofilm activity against Klebsiella pneumoniae, Staphylococcus aureus and Proteus vulgaris. The most promising extract, EtOH extract, was processed for cytotoxicity testing and GC–MS analysis based on antimicrobial testing. Ethanol extract revealed a significant cytotoxic effect against hepatocellular carcinoma (HePG-2) and colorectal colon cancer cell lines. GC–MS analysis indicated the presence of 41 compounds in the EtOH extract with hexadecanoic acid, ethyl ester and octadecanoic acid, ethyl ester as the main ingredients consisting 16.55% and 14.56% of the total content, respectively. These data suggest that P. sulcatus could be a good source for many compounds with antimicrobial and anticancer potentials.