Related Experiment Videos
Presence in Pieris rapae of cytotoxic activity against human carcinoma cells
K Koyama1, K Wakabayashi, M Masutani
1Biochemistry Division, National Cancer Center Research Institute, Chuo-ku, Tokyo.
Abstract:
Cytotoxic activity in extracts of pupae and adults of various kinds of butterflies and moths was tested in vitro against the human gastric carcinoma cell line, TMK-1, which was chosen as an example of human carcinoma cells. Among the species examined, cytotoxicity was limited to Pieris rapae, Pieris napi and Pieris brassicae. Activity was found down to a dilution of 1/10(4), while with the other butterflies and moths no activity was observed, even at 1/10(2). When the cytotoxicity of the three developmental stages, larvae, pupae and adults, of Pieris rapae was compared, the pupae showed the strongest activity, the IC50 against TMK-1 cells being at the 1/10(6) dilution. For larvae and adults, the respective IC50 values were at the 1/10(5) and 5/10(5) dilutions. The active principle in the pupae of Pieris rapae was found to be heat-labile and not extractable with organic solvents, but precipitated with ammonium sulfate and digested by proteases, suggesting that it is a protein. This cytotoxic factor was named pierisin.
Insights
Butterfly extracts, particularly from Pieris rapae pupae, exhibit potent cytotoxic activity against human gastric carcinoma cells. This natural compound, pierisin, shows promise as a potential anti-cancer agent.
Area of Science:
- Biochemistry
- Pharmacology
- Entomology
Background:
- Natural products are a rich source of potential therapeutic agents.
- Cytotoxicity screening of various organisms is crucial for drug discovery.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the cytotoxic potential of butterfly and moth extracts against human gastric carcinoma cells.
- To identify the specific species and developmental stages exhibiting the highest activity.
- To characterize the nature of the cytotoxic compound.
Main Methods:
- In vitro testing of extracts from adult and pupal butterflies and moths.
- Cytotoxicity assays using the human gastric carcinoma cell line TMK-1.
- Comparison of activity across different developmental stages (larvae, pupae, adults) of Pieris rapae.
- Biochemical characterization of the active compound (heat lability, solvent extraction, protease digestion).
Main Results:
- Cytotoxic activity was detected only in extracts of Pieris rapae, Pieris napi, and Pieris brassicae.
- Pieris rapae pupae exhibited the strongest cytotoxicity (IC50 at 1/10(6) dilution).
- The active compound, named pierisin, is a heat-labile protein.
Conclusions:
- Pierisin, a protein from Pieris rapae pupae, demonstrates significant in vitro cytotoxic activity against gastric carcinoma cells.
- Pierisin represents a novel cytotoxic natural product with potential therapeutic applications.