Portal de Periódicos da CAPES

In Vitro Cytotoxic Activity and Phytochemical Characterization (UPLC/T-TOF-MS/MS) of the Watermelon (Citrullus lanatus) Rind Extract

2022; Multidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute; Volume: 27; Issue: 8 Linguagem: Inglês

10.3390/molecules27082480

1433-1373

Heba A. El Gizawy, Alaadin E. El-Haddad, Yasmin M. Attia, Sally A. Fahim, Mai M. Zafer, Amr M. Saadeldeen,

Tannin, Tannase and Anticancer Activities

Reusing food waste is becoming popular in pharmaceutical industries. Watermelon (Citrullus lanatus) rind is commonly discarded as a major solid waste. Here, the in vitro cytotoxic potential of watermelon rind extracts was screened against a panel of human cancer cell lines. Cell cycle analysis was used to determine the induction of cell death, whereas annexin V-FITC binding, caspase-3, BAX, and BCL-2 mRNA expression levels were used to determine the degree of apoptosis. VEGF-promoting angiogenesis and cell migration were also evaluated. Moreover, the identification of phytoconstituents in the rind extract was achieved using UPLC/T-TOF-MS/MS, and a total of 45 bioactive compounds were detected, including phenolic acids, flavonoids aglycones, and their glycoside derivatives. The tested watermelon rind extracts suppressed cell proliferation in seven cancer cell lines in a concentration-dependent manner. The cytotoxicity of the rind aqueous extract (RAE) was higher compared with that of the other extracts. In addition to a substantial inhibitory effect on cell migration, the RAE triggered apoptosis in HCT116 and Hep2 cells by driving the accumulation of cells in the S phase and elevating the activity of caspase-3 and the BAX/BCL-2 ratio. Thus, a complete phytochemical and cytotoxic investigation of the Citrullus lanatus rind extract may identify its potential potency as an anticancer agent.