Influences of food matrices on cytotoxicity of asiatic acid in mammalian cell models

Abstract

SummaryThis study investigated the cytotoxicity of asiatic acid (AA) encapsulated in different protein‐carbohydrate matrices in human colon adenocarcinoma SW620, human hepatoblastoma HepG2 and diploid monkey kidney cells (Vero). Mungbean protein concentrate (MPC) and mungbean protein hydrolysate (MPH) in lactose (L) or lactose‐maltodextrin (LM) mixture, were used to fabricate matrices encapsulating AA during lyophilisation. The cytotoxicity of AA was in a dose‐dependent manner for HepG2 and SW620 cells, but not for Vero cells. The 50% inhibitory concentrations (IC50) of AA in HepG2 and SW620 were 120 and 130 μm respectively. The IC50 of AA encapsulated in MPH‐L matrix in HepG2 was reduced from that of AA alone to 80 μm (P < 0.05). Study of the anti‐cancer activity of AA, in the absence and presence of food matrices, revealed that an MPH‐L matrix led AA to cause more apoptosis deaths in HepG2 cells than either a MPC‐L matrix or pure AA.