The effect of the ethanolic extract of Tetraselmis suecica microalgae isolated from the Persian Gulf on the expression of BAX/BCL-2 genes in the Hela cervical cancer cell line

Marine organisms produce a variety of compounds with medicinal activities, including anticancer effects. This study aimed to investigate the effect of the ethanolic extract of Tetraselmis suecica algae isolated from the Persian Gulf on the expression level of BAX/BCL-2 genes in the Hela cervical cancer cell line. The ethanolic extract was obtained from T. suecica, and then, using the IC50 formula, the best extract concentration was obtained. MTT, Annexin V-FITC, and Real-time PCR tests were performed to investigate the effect of T. suecica microalgae extract on cytotoxicity, apoptosis, and expression of BAX/BCL-2 genes. Tetraselmis suecica extract significantly decreased the survival rate, increased apoptosis, increased the expression of the pro-apoptotic BAX gene, and reduced the expression of the anti-apoptotic BCL-2 gene in the Hela cell line. The results showed that the ethanolic extract of T. suecica microalgae may be helpful in the management of cervical cancer.