Optimization of Pyocyanin, a Redox Metabolite, Production from Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Evaluation of its Cytotoxic Efficacy against MDA-MB231 and MCF-7 Cell Lines
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.31185/bsj.Vol21.Iss37.1553Keywords:
Pyocyanin, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, optimization, cytotoxicity, breast cancerAbstract
Pseudomonas aeruginosa secretes a blue-green phenazine pigment known as pyocyanin, a redox metabolite that has emerged as a promising natural compound with potent antimicrobial and anticancer properties. This study was designed to optimize pyocyanin production conditions from clinical isolates of P. aeruginosa and to evaluate its cytotoxic activity against two human breast cancer cell lines, MDA-MB231 and MCF-7. Nutritional and environmental parameters — including carbon source, nitrogen source, pH, temperature, and incubation time — were systematically optimized to maximize pyocyanin yield. Statistical experimental designs based on response surface methodology (RSM) were employed to identify the factors most significantly influencing pigment production. The purified, lyophilized pyocyanin was subsequently assessed for anticancer activity using the MTT assay and morphological examination.
Findings indicated that optimized production conditions yielded significantly higher pyocyanin levels compared to basal media, demonstrating sufficient quantities for potential therapeutic application. Cytotoxicity assays revealed dose-dependent inhibition of breast cancer cell proliferation, with both MDA-MB231 and MCF-7 cell lines demonstrating sensitivity to pyocyanin treatment. IC₅₀ values were determined, and cell death pathways, including apoptosis and necrosis, were characterized through fluorescence microscopy and flow cytometry. In conclusion, optimized conditions significantly enhanced pyocyanin production from Pseudomonas aeruginosa. The purified compound exhibited dose-dependent cytotoxicity against MDA-MB-231 and MCF-7 breast cancer cells, inducing apoptosis and necrosis, suggesting its promising potential as a natural anticancer agent
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