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Polysaccharide extract of Spirulina sp. increases effector immune-cell killing activities against cholangiocarcinoma

Panya A, Wathikthinnakon M, Thepmalee C, Chiawpanit C, Panwong S, Wutti-In Y, Vongchan P, Klangsinsirikul P et al.

PloS one, 2024

Abstract

Cyanobacteria and algae serving as promising food supplements have recently garnered attention for their emerging potential in anti-cancer activity. Cholangiocarcinoma (CCA) or bile duct cancer is one of the top-leading cancers affecting people, particularly in Asian continent. With patients exhibiting no or minimal symptoms in the early stages, advanced CCA is often diagnosed, and primary treatments such as surgery may not be suitable. Discovery of natural bioactive compounds for cancer treatments have, thus, attracted attention as one of the effective means to combat CCA or to supplement primary treatments. In this work, ethanolic and polysaccharide extracts of cyanobacteria and algae were tested for their cytotoxicity against 2 CCA cell lines (KKU055 and KKU213A). The ethanolic extracts from Leptolyngbya sp. and Chlorella sp. demonstrated growth inhibition of both CCA cell lines, with IC50 values of 0.658 mg/mL and 0.687 mg/mL for KKU055, and 0.656 mg/mL and 0.450 mg/mL for KKU213A. In contrast, only the polysaccharide extracts from Sargassum spp. exhibited a remarkable cytotoxic effect, while the polysaccharide extract from Spirulina sp. showed slight effect only at a higher concentration (2 mg/mL). All tested extracts were further investigated for improving immune cell killing ability and showed that Spirulina sp. polysaccharide extract was able to improve the immune cell killing ability. This extract was then investigated for its effects on the immune cell population,…

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