In vitro screening of seaweed extract on the proliferation of mouse spleen and thymus cell

A total number of 31 types of seaweed were assessed with regard to their effects on the proliferation of mouse spleen and thymus cells in a culture, using an MTT reduction assay. Acetone:dichloromethane (1∶1) extracts of three seaweed plants:Derbesia marina, Sargassum sp., andHisikia fuziformis, exhibited significantly positive effects on the survival of mouse spleen and thymus cellsin vitro. The acetone: dichloromethane (1∶1) extracts ofSargassum sp., in particular, much more potent effects on thymus cell activation than did any of the other types of seaweed. However, the methanol extracts ofSargassum ringgoldianium andChondrus crispus exerted a stimulatory influence only on the proliferation of mouse spleen cells, whereas the methanol extracts ofGrateloupia lanceolata exhibited significant cell proliferation properties in both spleen and thymus cells.