Therapeutic potential of Stypocaulon scoparium extract in antioxidant, antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, and anticancer applications

Seaweeds are widely recognized as valuable sources of bioactive secondary metabolites with significant medicinal and industrial potential. The biological properties of the brown seaweed Stypocaulon scoparium crude extract were investigated. An algal sample was collected from the coastal region of Tipaza, Algeria, and the extract was evaluated for total polyphenol and flavonoid contents, and antioxidant, antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, and anticancer activities. The extract is rich in polyphenols and flavonoids, exhibiting strong antioxidant capacity. It showed notable antimicrobial activity was observed against various pathogens, with pronounced strong antifungal efficacy, and significantly reduced MCF7 breast cancer cell viability, indicating anticancer potential. Anti-inflammatory activity was demonstrated by inhibition of protein denaturation, with the extract exhibiting a distinct concentration-dependent effect. In summary, Stypocaulon scoparium was identified as a promising source of bioactive compounds. However, further investigations are required to elucidate their mechanisms of action and to validate their pharmaceutical applications.