Anti-cancer Effects of Sargassum micracanthum Extract on Non-small Cell Lung Cancer Cells

Sargassum micracanthum (SM), a brown macroalga widely distributed along the Korean coastline, is known for its diverse pharmacological activities, including anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and anticancer effects. While its ability to inhibit the migration and invasion of head and neck cancer cells has been reported, its cytotoxic activity against non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) cells remains largely unexplored. In this study, we evaluated the anticancer effects of an ethanolic extract of SM (ESM) on NSCLC cells, focusing on apoptosis induction. ESM significantly reduced the viability of H1299, PC9, and H1975 human NSCLC cells in a dose- and time-dependent manner. Treatment with ESM increased the sub-G1 cell population, annexin V-positive cells, and apoptotic nuclear condensation in a concentration-dependent fashion. ESM also upregulated cleaved PARP expression across all tested cell lines. Collectively, these findings indicate that ESM exerts anticancer effects in NSCLC cells by promoting apoptosis, highlighting its potential as a natural source for novel therapeutic agents against NSCLC.