Seed Protein from Artocarpus hirsutus Lam. with Trypsin Inhibitory, Micro-bicidal and Antioxidant Activities Induces Depletion of Human Skin Cancer (A431) and Colon Cancer (HT29) Cells

Abstract: Natural trypsin inhibitors are increasingly recognised as putative anticancer or antimicrobial therapeutics. In the present study, we isolated a proteinaceous trypsin inhibitor from the seeds of Artocarpus hirsutus to assess its anticancer, antioxidant and microbicidal effects. A trypsin inhibitory protein (AhTI) was isolated from the seeds of A. hirsutus using ion exchange and gel filtration chromatographic methods. The trypsin inhibitory activity of AhTI was confirmed by activity staining using Reverse Zymography. The effect of AhTI on human cancer cell lines (A431 and HT29) was studied by microscopic examination, MTT assay and LDH leakage analysis. Antioxidant activity of AhTI was analysed by ferric reducing power and DPPH radical scavenging assays. An agar well diffusion method was used to check the antimicrobial activity of AhTI. The purification protocols used in the study significantly increased the specific activity of the target protein from 72.65 ± 0.86 to 2048 ± 27.3. AhTI offers significant activity against the proliferation of the A431 and HT29 cancer cell lines. In vitro AhTI shows potent antioxidant activity and exhibits antimicrobial activity against all the bacteria and fungi isolates used in this study. Of particular note, AhTI was particularly effective against Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli. This in vitro study shows that AhTIis a promising candidate for further development novel therapeutics targeting cancer, microbial infections and oxidative stress. Graphical abstract