The Cytotoxic Effects of Humic Acid on Human Breast Cancer Cells ^†

Abstract

Breast cancer is the most common cancer among women and in order to create alternative treatments different types of in vivo and in vitro studies have used various plant-based therapeutic agents. Humic acid (HA) induces apoptosis and has various pharmacological properties including anti-inflammatory and anti-proliferative effects. In our study, we examined the cytotoxic effects of HA at concentrations of 5, 10, 20, 50 and 100 μg/mL in human breast adenocarcinoma MCF-7 cell line for 24 and 48 h. By using MTT method, it has been found out that HA 100 μg/mL had cytotoxic effect on human breast adenocarcinoma MCF-7 cell line at both 24 and 48 h; also found out that the effective dose of HA at the same time (24 and 48 h) was 50 μg/mL. The results of our study will shed light on the development of alternative therapeutic approaches in the treatment of cancer by evaluating the cytotoxic effect of HA.

1. Introduction

In recent years, the use of natural products and medicinal plants has become increasingly widespread in order to protect the general health of individuals, to prevent and treat diseases. Nowadays, interest in antioxidant compounds that can delay or prevent oxidative damage by inactivating free radicals is increasing worldwide. Humic acid (HA), is the most active ingredient of the main content of organic substances in the soil called humus. Reactive groups such as carboxyl, phenol, quinone in HA molecules give mineral and antioxidant properties to acids [1]. Humus and the products obtained from humus are used in agricultural and biomedical fields. It is possible to count anti-viral, anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidant, anti-tumor, anti-toxin among the most known activities of HA substances [2,3,4,5,6]. Many researchers have suggested that HA has the power to protect against cancers and cancer-causing viruses. This suggests that HA has different biological activities such as cancer prophylaxis and treatment, as well as decreased cell proliferation and decreased angiogenesis [7]. Due to a report by the WHO that breast cancer is at the forefront of women’s prevalence and cancer-related deaths, research on the treatment of breast cancer is still ongoing.

The cytotoxic effect of HA in human breast adenocarcinoma MCF-7 cell line was aimed in this study by measuring cell viability with MTT assay.

2. Materials and Methods

2.1. Purification of Humic Acid

HA (Sigma–Aldrich Co. Darmstadt, Germany) was dissolved in 100 mL NaOH solution (pH > 10), and then insoluble fraction was separated by filtration. The solution was acidified with 100 mL HCl to a Ph < 2.0 to sediment the HA, and to soluble fractions which will bind to HA. Any precipitate that formed was collected by centrifugation at 3000× g for 30 min, and re-dissolved in 100 mL NaOH. In order to obtain the purest HA, the alkaline acid treatment was repeated three times as described by Schnitzers [8]. After that, the purified HA was freeze-dried to a powder form and it was stored as a dried powder which then dissolved in PBS (pH = 7.4) before the experiments [9]. Finally, stock solutions were prepared at 5, 10, 20, 50 and 100 μg/mL filters.

2.2. Cell Line and Cell Culture

Human breast adenocarcinoma MCF-7 cell line (ATCC: HTB-22) was maintained in culture in RPMI-1640 medium (Biochrom, FG1215, Berlin, Germany) including 10% fetal bovine serum (Capricorn Scientific, FBS-11B, Ebsdorfergrund, Germany), 1% L-glutamine (EMD Millipore, K0282, Darmstadt, Germany) and 100 unit/mL of % penicillin, and 100 unit/mL of streptomycin (Biochrom, A2213). Cells were cultured in a humidified atmosphere at 37 °C in 5% CO₂ and the medium was changed every 2 days. When the cells were 80% confluent, they were routinely sub-cultured using 0.25% trypsin-EDTA solution (Biochrom, L2143). After a sufficient number of cells have been produced, some of the cells were stored −80 °C by cell freezing medium. The proliferation, passages and tracking of the cells were regularly monitored by using an inverted microscope. When the cells were confluent, they were removed from the flasks by using trypsin-EDTA solution and transferred to 96 well dishes. HA diluted in culture medium at five different concentrations (5, 10, 20, 50 and 100 μg/mL) for MTT assay. Cell suspensions were first prepared at densities of 3000 cell per each well of 96-well culture dishes and plated in triplicate for each acid concentration. Medium (100 μL) without HA was used as a positive control, and only medium which did not contain any cells and HA was used as a negative control. MCF-7 cells were treated with the concentrations as previously mentioned for 24 and 48 h. The cells were incubated at 37 °C for 4 h. After that, 100 μL DMSO was added each well and the absorbance was immediately determined at 540 nm in an UV-visible spectrophotometer multi plate reader (Versa Max, Molecular Device, Sunnyvale, CA, USA).

3. Results and Discussion

It is shown cells in standard culture medium by Figure 1.

Human breast adenocarcinoma MCF-7 cells were treated with HA at concentrations of 5, 10, 20, 50 and 100 μg/mL for 24 and 48 h. Cell viability was determined by MTT assay as described previously. Our results show that HA prepared at 100 μg/mL dose had a cytotoxic effect at 24 and 48 h (p < 0.005) while the 50 μg/mL HA was determined to be the most effective dose on MCF-7 cell lines at 24 and 48 h (Figure 2).

HA have been suggested to be an etiological factor of cancer as HA causes oxidative damage which is known to be a potential reason of carcinogenesis [10]. HA have been suggested to be an etiological factor of cancer, with HA induced oxidative damage as a potential causative mechanism of carcinogenesis [10]. HA maintains its uncertainty over human breast adenocarcinoma cells, and to date there are no published reports directly examining the effect of HA on breast cancer in vitro or in vivo studies. The cytotoxic effect of HA on human breast adenocarcinoma cells was first investigated in this study. In one study, they reported that HA used at different concentrations in the range of 100–1000 μg/mL in HeLa and SiHa cells and found out that there is no cytotoxic effect at 48 h less than 500 μg/mL concentrations. In the same study, the authors reported that 500 μg/mL and 300 μg/mL of HA increased the anti-proliferative effect in human cervical cancer cells [10]. Our results supported that HA which is prepared at 100 μg/mL dilution have cytotoxic effect at both 24 and 48 h incubation in MCF-7 cells. In addition, at 24 and 48 h incubation with 50 μg/mL HA, we were found to be the effective dose on MCF-7 cells.

4. Conclusions

Cancer is a leading cause of death worldwide. The possibility that intake of natural substances might reduce risk of cancer has attracted attention as eventual chemo-preventive or chemo-therapeutic agent. Especially, effective dose of the component which are using to treatment of cancer cells, it is really important. Because, during cancer treatment policy, rather than cytotoxic dose, effective dose should be determined before using patient treatment.