ABSTRACT
Salvia hispanica demonstrated to be a source of protein fractions with anticancer activity. The effect of the protein fractions <1, 1-3, and 3-5 kDa, obtained by ultrafiltration of the S. hispanica hydrolysate, was evaluated on the cellular viability of four cancer cell lines (MCF-7, Caco2, PC-3, and HepG2) and on human fibroblasts (hFB) at different concentrations (0.25, 0.5, 0.75, and 1 mg/ml). The protein fractions did not show cytotoxic effects on hFB. The protein fraction <1 kDa at 1 mg/ml showed the highest statistical effect on the cellular viability of all evaluated cancer lines; thus, its amino acid sequence was analyzed. From the multicriteria decision analysis of the peptide sequences obtained by mass spectrometry, the peptide KLKKNL with potential anticancer activity was selected. In conclusion, protein fractions could represent a therapeutic option for cancer treatment. However, further investigations are necessary to establish conclusive arguments. PRACTICAL APPLICATION: The work of this article is based on the background of the increasing potential of peptides for the treatment of chronic diseases. The results of this study present peptides of low molecular weight, obtained from chia seeds, as a potential adjuvant option for cancer treatment.
Subject(s)
Antineoplastic Agents/pharmacology , Neoplasms/drug therapy , Plant Extracts/pharmacology , Plant Proteins/pharmacology , Protein Hydrolysates/pharmacology , Salvia/chemistry , Antineoplastic Agents/chemistry , Cell Proliferation , Humans , Molecular Weight , Plant Proteins/chemistry , Protein Hydrolysates/chemistry , Tumor Cells, CulturedABSTRACT
Conventional cancer treatments such as chemotherapy, radiotherapy and surgery cause serious side effects on cancer patients which decrease their quality of life. In the past few years, cancer patients have been interested in the use of complementary medicine to improve the efficacy of conventional cancer treatments and decrease the side effects. Among the broad spectrum of complementary medicine, bioactive peptides from natural sources have gained great interest due to their potential use in the treatment of chronical diseases such as cancer. This review reports an updated survey of bioactive peptides, from natural sources, with anticancer and immunomodulatory activities obtained by enzymatic hydrolysis. Several peptides have demonstrated anticancer effects on In Vitro and In Vivo essays, such as: selective cytotoxicity, inhibition of growth, tumor size reduction and immunomodulation. However, there is absence of formal pharmacokinetic profiles and standardized extraction procedures of bioactive peptides. Further clinical trials are necessary to verify these anticancer effects and, facilitate the use of peptides in the treatment of cancer.