Title:The Cytotoxic and Anti-tumor Potential of Methanolic Extracts of Indian Marine
Isolates in HCT116 Colorectal Cancer Cells
Volume: 23
Issue: 17
Author(s): Shahjahan A, Sruthi Sekar, Kumaran Kasinathan and ArulJothi KN*
Affiliation:
- Department of Genetic Engineering, Faculty of Engineering and Technology, SRM Institute of Science and Technology, Potheri,
Kattankulathur, Chengalpattu, Tamilnadu, 603203, India
Keywords:
Nucleolin, colorectal cancer cells, marine compounds, cryptomaldamide, anti-tumor efficacy, colonospheres.
Abstract:
Introduction: The marine environment is a rich source of biodiversity, with several of its inhabitants producing
unique and physiologically active substances. The use of marine bacterial-derived chemicals over traditional
pharmaceuticals is gaining traction due to their larger variety of targets and modes of action. To circumvent the drawbacks
of current therapy options, researchers have looked to marine microbes for novel and effective anti-cancer compounds.
In this study, we examine one of India's least-examined coastal areas in search of novel bacterial sources of
anti-cancer chemicals.
Method: Soil sediments from the Indian south coast region were collected and microbes were isolated using standard
methods. The microorganisms were identified using 16s rRNA sequencing, and cytotoxic extracts were further examined
using GC-MS. MTT, clonogenic, and spheroid tests assessed the extract's cytotoxicity and anti-tumor efficacy.
Results: Our results indicated that the bacterial isolates with potent cytotoxic activity were Bacillus drentensis and
Bacillus haikouensis and had 10 and 12 potent anti-cancer and other bioactive compounds. The extracts had an IC50 of
30.08 and 109.4 μg/ml in the HCT116 cell line, respectively, and strongly inhibited colony formation. The cell cycle
analysis indicated that the extract induced cell death as indicated by the subG0 peak. We also showed that these methanolic
extracts induced toxicity in a 3D spheroid model indicating a strong anti-tumor activity. Furthermore, we performed
molecular docking for the compounds present in the extracts to VEGFR and nucleolin and found that ergostane
had favorable binding energy only to VEGFR.
Conclusion: The results indicate that the ME of B. drentensis and B. haikouensis contains potent anti-cancer compounds
to exhibit cytotoxic and anti-tumor activity in colorectal cancer cells.
