Cytokinetic Study of MCF-7 Cells Treated with Commercial and Recombinant Bromelain

Background: Breast cancer is a leading cause of death in women. The available chemotherapy drugs havebeen associated with many side effects. Bromelain has novel medicinal qualities including anti-inflammatory,anti-thrombotic, fibrinolytic and anti-cancer functions. Commercially available bromelain is obtained throughtedious methods; therefore, recombinant bromelain may provide a cheaper and simpler choice with similarquality. Materials and
Methods: This study aimed to assess the effects of commercial and recombinant bromelainon the cytokinetic behavior of MCF-7 breast cancer cells and their potential as therapeutic alternatives incancer treatment. Cytotoxic activities of commercial and recombinant bromelain were determined using(sulforhodamine) SRB assay. Next, cell viability assays were conducted to determine effects of commercial andrecombinant bromelain on MCF-7 cell cytokinetic behavior. Finally, the established growth kinetic data were usedto modify a model that predicts the effects of commercial and recombinant bromelain on MCF-7 cells.
Results:Commercial and recombinant bromelain exerted strong effects towards decreasing the cell viability of MCF-7cells with IC50 values of 5.13 μg/mL and 6.25 μg/mL, respectively, compared to taxol with an IC50 value of 0.063μg/mL. The present results indicate that commercial and recombinant bromelain both have anti-proliferativeactivity, reduced the number of cell generations from 3.92 to 2.81 for commercial bromelain and to 2.86 forrecombinant bromelain, while with taxol reduction was to 3.12. Microscopic observation of bromelain-treatedMCF-7 cells demonstrated detachment. Inhibition activity was verified with growth rates decreased dynamicallyfrom 0.009 h-1 to 0.0059 h-1 for commercial bromelain and to 0.0063 h-1 for recombinant bromelain.
Conclusions:Commercial and recombinant bromelain both affect cytokinetics of MCF-7 cells by decreasing cell viability,demonstrating similar strength to taxol.