Growth inhibitory potential of effective microorganism fermentation extract (EM-X) on cancer cells.
The effective microorganism (EM-X) fermentation extract is derived from rice bran and seaweed extract. It has been shown to possess anti-oxidation activity both in vitro and in vivo. To our knowledge, the possible in vitro anti-cancer potential of EM-X has not been demonstrated. Here we showed that the double concentrate of EM-X (EM-X2) at concentrations of 20-30% by volume, had growth inhibitory activity on MDA-MB231 breast cancer cell line and K-562 chronic myelogenous leukaemia cell lines by [3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-5-(3-carboxymethoxyphenyl)-2-(4-sulfophenyl)-2-H-tetrazolium, inner salt] (MTS) assay. No characteristic features of apoptosis could be observed morphologically. Colony formation assay illustrated that both MDA-MB231 breast cancer and K-562 CML cells lost part of their regeneration potential after treatment with EM-X2 at 30% concentration by volume for 24 h. At these concentrations, only slight growth inhibitory effect was observed in 293 human kidney fibroblast cells and in three non-malignant bone marrows. Intracellular nitro blue tetrazolium (NBT) reduction assay showed that both MDA-MB231 breast cancer and K-562 CML cells had about 30% reduction of intracellular NBT after incubation with 30% of EM-X2. Increased activity of superoxide dismutase (SOD) could be detected from both MDA-MB231 and K-562 cell lines after incubating with 30% of EM-X2. Taken together, our data suggested that EM-X could inhibit growth and reduce the regeneration potential of cancer cells, possibly through its antioxidation activity.
Chui
Chung Hin
CH
Central Laboratory, Institute of Molecular Technology for Drug Discovery and Synthesis, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong, P.R. China.
Cheng
Gregory Yin Ming
GY
Ke
Bin
B
Lau
Fung Yi
FY
Wong
Raymond Siu Ming
RS
Kok
Stanton Hon Lung
SH
Fatima
Sarwat
S
Cheung
Filly
F
Cheng
Chor Hing
CH
Chan
Albert Sun Chi
AS
Tang
Johnny Cheuk On
JC
D000975:Antioxidants / Q000494:pharmacology; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects; D001419:Bacteria; D001854:Bone Marrow Cells / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology; D001943:Breast Neoplasms; D002455:Cell Division / Q000187:drug effects*; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D003114:Colony-Forming Units Assay; D045424:Complex Mixtures / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005260:Female; D005285:Fermentation; D006801:Humans; D020014:K562 Cells; D008297:Male; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000494:pharmacology*; D011247:Pregnancy; D015003:Yeasts
D000975:Antioxidants; D045424:Complex Mixtures; D010936:Plant Extracts; C508178:microorganism fermentation extract