Effect of Various Nutraceuticals on Oncoprotein Heparan Sulfatase-2 Activity in Breast Cancer Cell Line

Abstract

One in ten of all new cancers diagnosed worldwide are the cases of breast cancer and it is a most common form of cancer in women in both developing and developed countries. It is also the principal cause of death from cancer among women globally. Nutraceuticals, basically plant derived components are being used for the prevention and treatment of many diseases, including cancer. Heparan sulfatase-2 (hsulf-2) is a newly isolated oncoprotein, highly expressed in MCF-7 breast cancer cell line and inactivation of this protein possibly may prevent/impede the progression of the cancer. Many nutraceuticals viz. turmeric, ginger, soya and bael fruit extract as a whole and pure components curcumin and zerumbone have been studied in this report. Barring zerumbone, these nutraceuticals significantly inhibited the oncoprotein heparan sulfatase-2 (hsulf-2) activities isolated from MCF-7 breast cancer cell line, with an IC50 value at micro molar levels, indicating that these could be potential anticancer components. Curcumin inhibited cell proliferation with an IC50 value of 37.5 μM, subsequently induced apoptosis of breast cancer cell line. In conclusion, the findings of the present study may provide a basis for further study of these nutraceuticals in the treatment of breast cancer.