Cytotoxicity Evaluation of Madrepora Coral on Peripheral Blood Mononuclear Cells

Introduction: The mineral skeleton of corals possesses physical and chemical properties that could resemble the matrix of human bone. It is crucial to evaluate the cytotoxicity of the coral before utilizing it in clinical settings. The present study aimed to assess the cytotoxicity of Madrepora coral on peripheral mononuclear blood (PBM) cells. Materials and Methods: Different concentrations (50, 20, 10, 5, 2, 1 and 0.5 mg/ml) of coral powder were prepared. 96-well plate containing PBM cells, culture medium, and different concentrations of the coral powered was incubated in 37° C with 5% CO2 for 24, 48, 72 hours. The cell viability was evaluated using MTT assay. Results: After 24 h, only 50 mg/ml dose of the coral significantly decreased the viability of PBM cells compared to the control group. After 48 h, 20 mg/ml and 50 mg/ml doses significantly decreased the viability of PBM cells (P < 0.05). After 72 h, the viability of PBM cells was significantly decreased with 10 mg/ml, 20 mg/ml, and 50 mg/ml doses (P < 0.05). Conclusion: It can be concluded that the Madrepora coral has low toxicity for mononuclear peripheral blood cells in high doses, and it can be a candidate for implantation in human as a bone substitute.