Anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties of Agelas sp., Ircinia sp., and Aaptos suberitoides

Reactive oxygen species (ROS) and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) can be therapeutic targets for inflammatory diseases. COX-2 expression which can be triggered by ROS might consequently promote inflammation. Inhibition of ROS by the antioxidant, however, may prevent or decrease the expression of COX-2. In this study, the antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties of the hexane (H), dichloromethane (DCM), and methanol-water (MW) extracts of marine sponges Agelas sp. (Asp), Ircinia sp. (Isp), and Aaptos suberitoides (As) were determined. The correlation between their antioxidant properties and ability to inhibit COX enzymes was also established. The MW extracts of the marine sponges and the AsDCM contain a significant (p<0>50% of the COX-2 and gave a selectivity index (COX-2/COX-1) >1.0. This suggests that the extracts can be sources of compounds with promising and selective inhibitory properties against COX-2. Correlation analysis further showed a positive linear correlation between the extracts’ inhibitory activity against the COX enzymes and their TPC, reducing power, and DPPH radical scavenging activity. Thus, the antioxidant activity of the extracts may have influenced their anti-inflammatory property via COX inhibition.