Cytostatic activity in the hydrophilic fraction of the crude extract from the White Sea sponge Halichondria panicea

Halichondria panicea, commonly known as the breadcrumb sponge, is an ecologically aggressive and widespread species in the coastal waters of North Atlantic and North Pacific. Cytostatic activity of the water-soluble extract fraction from the White Sea sponge Halichondria panicea was tested using organotypic cultures of rat liver fragments. The study shows a pronounced negative dose-dependent effect of the extract on the development of tissue explants of the test animals. Our results confirm toxicity of the White Sea Halichondria panicea, which was revealed earlier toward marine epibenthic organisms. The chemical nature of a substance or substances responsible for toxic effect is discussed.