Evaluation of genotoxic biomarkers in extracts of marine sponges from Argentinean South Sea

Marine sponges are a rich source of structurally and biologically active metabolites of biomedical importance. We screened polar and non-polar samples of crude extracts obtained from marine sponges collected in different locations of Argentinean south sea coast, as a novel approach for their characterization.The evaluation was performed using cytotoxic and genotoxic biomarkers such as mitotic index (MI), cell proliferation kinetics (CPK) and sister chromatid exchanges (SCE), monitored in vitro using peripheral blood lymphocytes. Statistical analysis was performed using two-way analysis of variance (ANOVA). The extracts evaluated belonged to: Callyspongia flabellata (BURTON, 1932) (Callyspongiidae); Plicatellopsis sp.(Suberitidae); Callyspongia fortis (RIDLEY, 1881) (Callyspongiidae); Clathria (Microciona) antarctica (TOPSENT, 1917) (Microcionidae); Spongia (Spongia) magellanica (THIELE, 1905) (Spongiidae); Halicnemia papillosa (THIELE, 1905) (Axinellidae); Cliona chilensis (THIELE, 1905) (Clionidae); Haliclona sp. 1; Haliclona sp. 2(Chalinidae).Genotoxicity studies revealed that the evaluated sponge extracts did not exhibit cytotoxic activity measured from mitotic index MI and cell proliferation kinetics(CPK). In contrast, sister chromatid exchanges (SCE) showed that the non-polar extract of Callyspongia fortis and the polar extract of Cliona chilensis presented significant differences in SCE frequency (p < 0.001), when compared with control cultures. These results emphasize the need to set up a standard battery of “in vitro” genotoxicity testing for new chemicals, pharmaceutical and drugs.