Bromelain Inhibitory Effect on Colony Formation: An In vitro Study on Human AGS, PC3, and MCF7 Cancer Cells

Farzane Raeisi1, Elham Raeisi1,2, Esfandiar Heidarian1

  • 1Clinical Biochemistry Research Center, Basic Health Sciences Institute, Shahrekord University of Medical Sciences, Shahrekord, Iran.

Insights

Bromelain exhibits anticancer properties by inhibiting the proliferation and colony formation of AGS, PC3, and MCF7 cancer cells in a dose-dependent manner, demonstrating its potential therapeutic value.

Area of Science:

  • Biochemistry
  • Cancer Biology
  • Pharmacology

Background:

  • Bromelain, a protease derived from pineapple, is recognized for its potential anticancer activities.
  • Understanding the specific mechanisms and pathways through which bromelain exerts its anticancer effects is crucial for therapeutic development.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the inhibitory effects of bromelain on the proliferation and colony formation of human cancer cell lines: AGS (gastric adenocarcinoma), PC3 (prostate cancer), and MCF7 (breast adenocarcinoma).
  • To determine the dose-dependent inhibitory potential of bromelain and establish its half-maximal inhibitory concentrations (IC50) for these cell lines.

Main Methods:

  • Cell proliferation was assessed using the MTT assay across various concentrations of bromelain.
  • Colony formation inhibition was evaluated using clonogenic assays at determined IC50 concentrations and different initial cell densities.
  • Plating efficiency and cell surviving fraction were analyzed post-bromelain treatment.

Main Results:

  • Bromelain demonstrated a significant dose-dependent inhibition of proliferation in AGS, PC3, and MCF7 cells.
  • The determined IC50 values for bromelain were 65 μg/mL for AGS, 60 μg/mL for PC3, and 65 μg/mL for MCF7 cells.
  • Bromelain treatment significantly suppressed colony formation and reduced plating efficiency and cell surviving fraction in a dose-dependent manner, with optimal initial cell densities identified for each cell line.

Conclusions:

  • Bromelain effectively inhibits the proliferation and colony formation of AGS, PC3, and MCF7 human cancer cells in vitro.
  • These findings highlight cell proliferation and colony formation inhibition as key mechanisms underlying bromelain's anticancer effects.
  • Bromelain presents a promising natural compound for further investigation in cancer therapy.

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