The increasing demand for different value-added products from natural seaweeds requires a sustainable cultivation method for the regular supply of biomass and to safeguard the natural ecosystem from overexploitation. This study evaluated laboratory acclimatization of the green seaweed Acrosiphonia orientalis (DGR: 2.71 ± 0.21%; GPP: 12.55 ± 0.1 mg O2 L−1 day−1), followed by a comparative evaluation of its physicochemical and biochemical characteristics, metabolite profile, and antiproliferative activity compared with naturally harvested seaweed. Metabolite profiling identified 47 compounds exhibiting differential accumulation patterns, with the natural specimens enriched in omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids, including docosahexaenoic acid, and the laboratory-acclimatized specimens exhibited elevated arachidonic acid levels. Amino acid profiling revealed higher concentrations of essential and non-essential amino acids in the natural specimens, with prominent levels of phenylalanine and aspartic acid, while the lab-acclimatized specimens were enriched in isoleucine, methionine, proline, and cysteine. The lab-acclimatized specimens exhibited significantly enhanced water absorption (WSC: 6 ± 0.25 mL/g DW; WHC: 2.68 ± 0.11 g/g DW) and higher total sugar (47.11 ± 0.52% Glc eq. DW) and phenolic contents (51.28 ± 0.54 mg GAE g−1 extract), while the natural specimens had a superior oil-holding capacity (OHC: 1.8 ± 0.12 g/g DW); higher total flavonoid (123.62 ± 2.97 mg Q g−1 extract), protein (5.11 ± 0.36 µg BSA eq/mg DW), and chlorophyll contents (8.82 ± 0.58 mg/L); and higher antioxidant activities (ABTS-EC50: 67.33 ± 0.97 μg/mL extract). The mineral analysis revealed distinct elemental profiles, with enrichment of sodium, magnesium, and calcium in the lab-acclimatized specimens and a more favorable Na/K ratio (0.14 vs. 0.78) in the natural specimens. Of note, extracts from both seaweeds exhibited significant dose-dependent antiproliferative activity against HeLa cervical cancer cells (Wild EC50: 118.63 ± 14.14 µg/mL extract; lab EC50: 153.35 ± 10.18 µg/mL extract), suppressed colony formation in soft agar assays, induced nuclear condensation (based on Hoechst staining), and modulated the expression of key oncogenes (upregulating NDRG1, TP53, and CASP3 and downregulating BCL2, MYC, and CCND1). Collectively, this study provides an approach to acclimatize A. orientalis that may be utilized for developing a cultivation method. Moreover, this green seaweed has a great potential to be used for nutraceutical and functional food applications.
Khandwal et al. (Mon,) studied this question.