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Assessment of the antioxidant and anticancer potential of different isolated strains of cyanobacteria and microalgae from soil and agriculture drain water

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Abstract

The potential usage of cyanobacteria and microalgae as a promising and alternative source for new and safe therapeutic compounds is recently caught the attention, due to its versatile properties as antitumor, antioxidant, antifungal, and antiviral agents. Primarily, the cyanobacteria and microalgae from fresh and marine water are previously studied, however those isolated from soil and agriculture drain water were poorly investigated. Therefore, this study aimed to screen and characterize the antioxidant profile, as well as the potential anticancer assessment of 12 species of cyanobacteria and two species of microalgae strains isolated from soil and agriculture drain water. The data showed that total phenol contents were highest in Anabaena oryzae and Aphanizomenon gracile (27.39 and 26.83 mg GAE/g, respectively), followed by Leptolyngbya fragilis (22.96 mg GAE/g). Out of the 14 species identified, the cyanobacterium Dolichospermum flos-aquae HSSASE2 exhibited the most elevated antioxidant activity in terms of NO scavenging activity and anti-lipid peroxidation potential (IC50 = 28.7 ± 0.1 and 11.9 ± 0.2 μg/ml, respectively) and the lowest DPPH radical scavenging activity (467.7 μg/ml). Screening of the anticancer potential of all studied strains against four different human cancer cell lines (Caco-2, MCF-7, PC3, and HepG-2) demonstrated that Dolichospermum crassum HSSASE20 has the highest anticancer effect among all tested species against colon and prostate cancer cell lines (IC50 = 57.9 ± 0.4 and 44.1 ± 0.2 μg/ml, respectively), while Oscillatoria sancta HSSASE19 recorded the most anticancer effect against MCF-7 (breast cancer) cell line (IC50 = 15.1 ± 0.7 μg/ml). Dolichospermum spiroides HSSASE18 obtained the highest anticancer effect HepG-2 (hepatic cancer) cell line (IC50 = 48.8 ± 0.7 μg/ml). Additionally, cytotoxicity against healthy peripheral blood mononuclear cells was studied and revealed that Oscillatoria sancta was the safest one among all studied strains. Data obtained from the sensitivity index demonstrated that Dolichospermum crassum was the most sensitive strain against the four cancerous cell lines. Cyanobacteria and microalgae from the soil and drain water sources are efficient free radical scavengers, containing apoptogens capable of stimulating apoptotic cascades and overcoming chemo-resistance in cancer therapy. Thus, these novel secondary metabolites are an excellent alternative, safe, and low-cost antioxidant and anticancer therapeutic compounds.

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Funding

This work was supported by the Ministry of Scientific Research, Egypt under the coordination project between Egypt and Tunisia No. 10-4-22. The project was operated at the City of Scientific Research and Technology Application.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Botany and Microbiology Department, Faculty of Science, Cairo University, Giza, 12613, Egypt

    Hoda H. Senousy

  2. Bioprocess Development Department, Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology Research Institute (GEBRI), City for Scientific Research and Technology Applications, New Borg El-Arab City, Universities and Research District, 21934, Alexandria, Egypt

    Sawsan Abd Ellatif

  3. Department of Environmental Sciences and Engineering, Government College University, Allama Iqbal Road, Faisalabad, 38000, Pakistan

    Shafaqat Ali

  4. Department of Biological Sciences and Technology, China Medical University, Taichung, 40402, Taiwan

    Shafaqat Ali

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  1. Hoda H. Senousy
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  2. Sawsan Abd Ellatif
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Correspondence to Shafaqat Ali.

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Senousy, H.H., Abd Ellatif, S. & Ali, S. Assessment of the antioxidant and anticancer potential of different isolated strains of cyanobacteria and microalgae from soil and agriculture drain water. Environ Sci Pollut Res 27, 18463–18474 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-020-08332-z

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-020-08332-z

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