Green surfactant of marine origin exerting a cytotoxic effect on cancer cell lines

The present work reveals the efficacy of a marine antimicrobial lipopeptide biosurfactant in blocking proliferation of breast cancer and colon cancer cell lines, without displaying any significant antioxidant activity. A novel isoform of 1382 Da played the key role, in sharp contrast to proliferation-blocking marine biosurfactant isoforms detected earlier in the range of 996-1077 Da and 1470-1509 Da. Inhibition of cancer cells was promoted by nanomolar concentrations of the test compound whereas much higher concentrations were reported for a few biosurfactants of marine origin as well as those of terrestrial origin like surfactin and rhamnolipids. Dual staining with annexin V and propidium iodide followed by FACS analysis showed an increased population of cancer cells at the sub G(0)/G(1) phase indicative of the programmed cell death after treatment. Although in vivo studies are yet to be done, the results of the in vitro studies displaying the cytotoxicity of this non-hemolytic marine biosurfactant product advocates for its exploitation as a potential drug candidate in anticancer chemotherapy.