Effects of preparation method on the biochemical characterization and cytotoxic activity of New Zealand surf clam extracts.

Molluscan extracts confer a wide range of health promoting properties, one of them is cytotoxicity. Extraction and processing can affect the efficacy and properties of bioactive molecules. New Zealand (NZ) surf clams have never been thoroughly studied for bioactives until recently.

Extraction techniques and potential health benefits of bioactive compounds from marine molluscs: a review.

Marine molluscs and their bioactive compounds are of particular relevance to the growing pool of nutraceutical resources under global investigation. A number of extraction techniques have been developed to isolate bioactive compounds according to their chemical characterization, such as proteins, carbohydrates and lipids. We briefly reviewed those methods in general.

Cytotoxicity of Extracts from New Zealand Surf Clams Against Organ Cancer Cell Lines.

In this study, we examined the cytotoxic effects of four fractions from three species of New Zealand (NZ) surf clam on four common organ cancer cells. In most cases, a dose- and time-dependent inhibition on the proliferation of the cancer cells was observed. This was most significant in WiDr (colon) cells, where the percentages of viability reduced to as low as 6%, 5%, and 17% (at 1000 µg 72 h) by extracts from Diamond shell, Storm shell, and Tua tua species, respectively.

The antioxidant potential of the New Zealand surf clams.

The antioxidant action of three New Zealand surf clams was evaluated for the first time. Aqueous (cd) and ethanolic extracts from Diamond shell - Crassula aequilatera, Storm shell - Mactra murchisoni, and Tua tua - Paphies donacina were studied for their antioxidant potentials using two in vitro assays. The ethanolic extracts were further fractioned into four parts; petroleum ether (pe), ethyl acetate (ea), n-butanol (nb), and the final aqueous fraction (w).