Cytotoxic Effects of Polysaccharides from Medicinal Plants: Syzygium aromaticum (L.) Merr. & L.M.Perry, Annona muricata L., Myrmecodia platytyrea Becc., and Averrhoa carambola L. on MCF-7 Breast Cancer Cells
Mohd Kamal N.H., Abd Rashid L., Daryl J.A., Hidayatul Khamariah Z.A.
Abstract:
Context: Polysaccharides are the most common natural renewable macromolecular polymers in medicinal plants. The polysaccharides of medicinal plants have been shown to have antioxidant, antitumor and antiviral effects, modulate immunity, lower blood lipids and have anticancer activity. Methods: In this study, the cytotoxicity of polysaccharides from Syzygium aromaticum (L.) Merr. & L.M.Perry, Annona muricata L., Myrmecodia platytyrea Becc., and Averrhoa carambola L. against human breast cancer cells MCF-7 was tested. The MTT assay was used to evaluate cell viability using different methods with different concentrations (0–300 μg/ml) of each polysaccharide to study the inhibitory effect. Results: A dose-dependent decrease in cell viability was observed, but none of the tested polysaccharides reached a 50% inhibitory concentration (IC₅₀) in the test area. Polysaccharide of Myrmecodia platytyrea Becc. proved to be the most cytotoxic among all extracts. In contrast, Averrhoa carambola L. and Annona muricata L. caused hardly any reduction in the viability of the cancer cells. Conclusion: Overall, all tested plant-derived polysaccharides exhibited only weak direct cytotoxicity against MCF-7 breast cancer cells within the tested concentration range, as none achieved an IC₅₀ below 300 μg/mL. This has not yet been fully investigated and requires further research to investigate higher doses, longer treatment duration or a possible synergistic effect with other cancer treatments.
Keywords: Anticancer, breast cancer, cytotoxicity, MCF-7, medicinal plants, polysaccharides
Mohd Kamal N.H., Abd Rashid L., Daryl J.A., Hidayatul Khamariah Z.A.
Abstract:
Context: Polysaccharides are the most common natural renewable macromolecular polymers in medicinal plants. The polysaccharides of medicinal plants have been shown to have antioxidant, antitumor and antiviral effects, modulate immunity, lower blood lipids and have anticancer activity. Methods: In this study, the cytotoxicity of polysaccharides from Syzygium aromaticum (L.) Merr. & L.M.Perry, Annona muricata L., Myrmecodia platytyrea Becc., and Averrhoa carambola L. against human breast cancer cells MCF-7 was tested. The MTT assay was used to evaluate cell viability using different methods with different concentrations (0–300 μg/ml) of each polysaccharide to study the inhibitory effect. Results: A dose-dependent decrease in cell viability was observed, but none of the tested polysaccharides reached a 50% inhibitory concentration (IC₅₀) in the test area. Polysaccharide of Myrmecodia platytyrea Becc. proved to be the most cytotoxic among all extracts. In contrast, Averrhoa carambola L. and Annona muricata L. caused hardly any reduction in the viability of the cancer cells. Conclusion: Overall, all tested plant-derived polysaccharides exhibited only weak direct cytotoxicity against MCF-7 breast cancer cells within the tested concentration range, as none achieved an IC₅₀ below 300 μg/mL. This has not yet been fully investigated and requires further research to investigate higher doses, longer treatment duration or a possible synergistic effect with other cancer treatments.
Keywords: Anticancer, breast cancer, cytotoxicity, MCF-7, medicinal plants, polysaccharides
