Immunomodulatory and antineoplastic efficacy of common spices and their connection with phenolic antioxidants

Authors

  • Baojun Xu Food Science and Technology Program, Beijing Normal University–Hong Kong Baptist University United International College, Zhuhai 519087 China
  • Kumar Ganesan Food Science and Technology Program, Beijing Normal University–Hong Kong Baptist University United International College, Zhuhai 519087 China; Laboratory and Clinical Research Institute for Pain, Department of Anaesthesiology, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
  • Suresh Mickymaray Department of Biology, College of Science, Al-Zulfi-, Majmaah University, Majmaah- 11952, Riyadh region Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
  • Faiz Abdulaziz Alfaiz3 Department of Biology, College of Science, Al-Zulfi-, Majmaah University, Majmaah- 11952, Riyadh region Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
  • Rajarajan Thatchinamoorthi Proteomics Lab, Bioscience Core Lab, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology, Thuwal, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
  • Mohammed Saleh Al Aboody Department of Biology, College of Science, Al-Zulfi-, Majmaah University, Majmaah- 11952, Riyadh region Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.31989/bchd.v3i2.687

Abstract

Background: Spices have generally offered a conventional way to avert and heal various communicable and non-communicable diseases due to their efficacy and safety and their noteworthy contribution towards understanding targeted drug action and drug delivery systems. Hence, the current investigation is designed to evaluate the immunomodulatory and antineoplastic efficacy of 15 spices that connect with the flavonoid and total polyphenol ingredients. This study includes the 15 adopted spices and their total flavonoid and polyphenol contents, cell viability assay (MTT), immunomodulatory efficacy (NO, TNF-α), and antineoplastic efficacy (using six cancer cell lines).

Methods: The quantification of the flavonoid and phenolic content of methanolic extracts of 15 spices was performed by colorimetric assay. The immunomodulatory efficacy was studied according to their capacity to prevent NO and TNF-α synthesis in LPS stimulated RAW 264.7 macrophages. Cell viability was observed using MTT colorimetric assay. Antineoplastic efficacy was determined with six cancer cell lines, namely liver (HepG2), colon (HT29), breast (MCF7), pancreas (MIA PaCa2), lung (A549) and blood (Raji). 

Results: The outcome of significant immunomodulatory efficacy of the spices was noted in the following sequences: Acorus calamus L.(Inhibition of NO-49.32 ± 4.29 µg/mL and TNF-α 96.35 ± 8.23 µg/mL)> Alpinia galanga Wild (Inhibition of NO-55.69 ± 5.89µg/mL and TNF-α 102.36 ± 8.96 µg/mL)> Armoracia rusticana Gaerth (Inhibition of NO-82.44 ± 5.98 µg/mL and TNF-α 115.69 ± 7.59)> Capparis spinosa L. (Inhibition of NO-127.59 ± 5.68 µg/mL and TNF-α 123.58 ± 8.56 µg/mL) > Aframomum melegueta K. Schum (Inhibition of NO-169.89 ± 6.89 µg/mL and TNF-α 144.59 ± 7.89 µg/mL). The remaining spices considerably inhibited the generation of NO and TNF-α. All spices studied exhibited highly significant antineoplastic effects against all six cell lines. Noteworthy biological activities were observed in A. calamus, A. galanga, A. rusticana, C. spinose, and A. melegueta which have bulk quantities of polyphenols.

Conclusion: Based on the present findings, spices are possible candidates for novel antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and antineoplastic agents.

Keywords: Spices; cancer cell lines; immunomodulatory; antineoplastic; total polyphenol contents

Published

2020-02-28

Issue

Section

Research Articles