Assessment of the cytotoxic potential of an aqueous-ethanolic extract from Thalassia testudinum angiosperm marine grown in the Caribbean Sea.

Thalassia testudinum extract is more cytotoxic and produced more DNA damage on human hepatoma cells than to other non-tumour cells. A possible mechanism is suggested for extract-induced cytotoxicity based on oxidative stress, nuclear damage and hypercalcaemia in HepG2 cells. T. testudinum may be a source for antitumour agents.