The Marine Alga Enteromorpha compressa as a Green Modulator of Systemic Alterations: Insights from an Induced Tumor Mouse Model

Marine ecosystems are recognized as an incredible source of natural products that demonstrate notable pharmacological activities. The marine macroalga Enteromorpha compressa is an edible alga which is widely distributed along the Mediterranean Sea. Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate the impact of ethanolic and aqueous extracts of E. compressa collected from the Mediterranean Sea coast, Port Said, Egypt in cancer induced mouse model. Ehrlich ascites tumor cells were inoculated intramuscularly in the thigh muscle of mice, then tumor induced mice were treated with low and high doses (100 and 200mg/ kg) of both ethanolic and aqueous extracts of E. compressa.  Aqueous extract showed higher amounts of phenols and flavonoids (10.5 ± 0.45 µg gallic acid equivalents per gram of extract, 7.9 ± 0.4 µg rutin equivalents per gram of extract, respectively) than ethanolic extract (7.9 ± 0.34µg GA E/mg and 5.9 ± 0.3 µg R E/mg, respectively). Antioxidant property of the extracts was confirmed by the significant increase (P<0.05) in the total antioxidant capacity of treated mice. Significant decreases in serum aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), creatinine, and urea were observed (P<0.05) in all extract treated groups compared with the untreated Ehrlich solid tumor (EST) control group. Moreover, histological examination of tumor, liver, and kidney tissues revealed that E. compressa extracts possessed ameliorative effects on these organs alterations. The treatment with high and low doses of aqueous extract revealed marked improvement in treated mice, superior to ethanolic extract. Furthermore, E. compressa extracts possessed a marked enhancement effect on hematological parameters by modulating the count of white blood cells, platelets, red blood cells, and hemoglobin concentrations among the treated groups. Finally, E. compressa, as a marine organism, is a valuable source for discovering the field of eco-friendly green sources for treatments of many health disorders via further recommended studies.