Antimicrobial and anticancer activities of Periplaneta americana tissue lysate: An in vitro study

Abstract

ObjectiveCancer has emerged as a life-threatening disease over the past few decades, accounting for a higher rate of mortality. The advancement in cancer therapy has improved the quality of life of patients, however, the chemotherapy/ radiotherapy resistance conferred by the cancer cells emerged as a new threat. It demands the need for novel anticancer molecules from natural products. Animal product-based anticancer therapeutics are emerging as novel drug candidates and they are also highly nutritional. MethodsIn this study, the cyclohexane extract of the American cockroach, Periplaneta americana L., has been evaluated for its inhibitory activities against fungal and bacterial human pathogens; Candida albicans and MRSA and its effect as a cancer therapeutic agent. ResultsResults showed that inhibition zones were (8, 9 mm) with minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of 62.5 µg/ml and 0.9 µg/ml, for both fungal and bacterial cultures, respectively. The ultrastructural changes of Candida albicans and MRSA, after treatment, were observed using a transmission electron microscope (TEM). Cockroach extracted lysate had no cytotoxic effect on normal MRC-5 human-lung cell line with CC50 value = 118 ± 3.4 µg/ml. However, the antitumor activity of Cockroach lysate showed an inhibitory effect against MCF-7 (breast human carcinoma) cell line with IC50 values = 30.2 ± 1.62 µg/ml. Chemical analysis of cockroach extract using the HPLC technique coupled with an ESI mass spectrometer proved that this extract contained high biologically active compounds. ConclusionOverall, the study proves the potential of P. americana lysate as a potential therapeutic agent against microbial infections and cancer cells.