The Effect of Water-Soluble Polysaccharide from Jackfruit (<i>Artocarpus heterophyllus</i> Lam.) on Human Colon Carcinoma Cells Cultured In Vitro

• Main Authors: Adrian Wiater, Roman Paduch, Sylwia Trojnar, Adam Choma, Małgorzata Pleszczyńska, Paulina Adamczyk, Mateusz Pięt, Katarzyna Próchniak, Janusz Szczodrak, Jakub Strawa, Michał Tomczyk
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: MDPI AG 2020-01-01
• Series: Plants
• Subjects: <i>artocarpus heterophyllus</i>; water-soluble polysaccharide; cytotoxicity; cytokines; nitric oxide; human colon tumor cells
• Online Access: https://www.mdpi.com/2223-7747/9/1/103

Various phytochemical studies have revealed that jackfruit (<i>Artocarpus heterophyllus</i> Lam.) is rich in bioactive compounds, including carotenoids, flavonoids, volatile acids, tannins, and lectins. The aim of the study was to analyze the biological activity of water-soluble polysaccharide (WSP) isolated from jackfruit and to assess its immunomodulatory, cytotoxic, and anti-oxidative effects on human colon carcinoma cells in vitro. The neutral red (NR) uptake assay revealed no toxic influence of the polymer on the viability of tumor cells (HT29 and SW620). After 24 h and 48 h of incubation, the cellular viability was not lower than 94%. The metabolic activity of the cells (MTT) at the compound concentration of 250 &#181;g/mL was higher than 92% in comparison to the control. WSP (250 &#181;g/mL) exerted no significant effect on the morphology of the cells was determined by May-Gr&#252;nwald-Giemsa staining. WSP changed nitric oxide (NOx) production by the tumor cells depending on the time of incubation and prior 2-h stimulation of the cells with <i>E. coli</i> 0111:B4 LPS. It significantly stimulated IL-1&#946; production by the tumor cells. The IL-6 level increased but that of IL-10 decreased by a WSP concentration-dependent manner. No such effect was detected in SW620. The WSP had antioxidant properties. In conclusion, water-soluble polysaccharide isolated from <i>A. heterophyllus</i> exhibits significant biological activity towards many types of both normal and cancerous cells. Therefore, it may be considered as a useful agent in the protection of human health or in functional and dietary nutrition.