Abstract
Gracilaria rubra is rich in bioactive compounds with various potential health benefits. This study aimed to elucidate the profile of both extractable bioactive components (EBCs) and non-extractable bioactive components (NEBCs) of G. rubra and determine their anti-colon cancer and anti-inflammatory activities. Both EBCs and NEBCs displayed strong suppressive effects on the viability of HCT116 cells, which causes cell cycle arrest, induces cellular apoptosis, and regulates the expression of cyclin-dependent kinases (CDKs) and tumor suppressor proteins. Additionally, EBCs and NEBCs from G. rubra displayed anti-inflammatory functions via inhibiting the production of nitric oxide (NO), reactive oxygen species (ROS), and proinflammatory cytokines in activated macrophages and regulating the expression levels of cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), NADPH-quinone oxidoreductase-1 (NQO-1), and heme oxygenase 1 (HO-1). These findings provide a rationale for animal and human studies designed to evaluate the chemopreventive and anti-inflammatory potential of these bioactive compounds from G. rubra.