FERMENTATION ENHANCES THE ANTIPROLIFERATIVE ACTIVITIES OF ANNONA SQUAMOSA SEED POLYSACCHARIDES ON HUMAN MCF-7 AND RHABDOMYOSARCOMA

Cancer is a primary cause of death globally and a significant public health concern. Polysaccharides are complex carbohydrates found abundantly in natural sources, including plants, and have attracted interest due to their possible health advantages, including anticancer activities. Annona squamosa, also known as the sugar apple, has long been prized for its healing properties, thus an intriguing candidate for investigating its potential effects on cancer cells. Through boosting bioavailability, producing active metabolites, enriching the nutrient profile, altering the composition of bioactive substances, and influencing the gut microbiota, fermentation plays a crucial role in promoting the antiproliferative effects of food. Polysaccharide was extracted from the fermented and unfermented cotyledon and coat of A. squamosa seed, characterised by HPLC, and antiproliferative activity was investigated using the MTT assay on human breast adenocarcinoma (MCF-7) and rhabdomyosarcoma (RD) cell lines. The Vero cell line obtained from the kidney of a green monkey of African descent was used for selectivity. The polysaccharides displayed antiproliferative activity against the cancerous cell lines MCF-7 (breast cancer) and RD (rhabdomyosarcoma-soft tissue sarcoma), with IC50 values ranging from 27.10 ± 0.61 to 57.01 ± 0.06 µg/ml and a good selectivity for the cancer cells over normal body cells (Vero), with fermented better than unfermented. In conclusion, A. squamosa seed polysaccharides exhibited antiproliferative properties on MCF-7 and RD, which could be explored in developing a novel drug in cancer prevention and treatment.