Isolation of cottonseed extracts that affect human cancer cell growth

Authors: Cao, Heping; Sethumadhavan, Kandan; Bland, John

Submitted to: Scientific Reports
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 6/29/2018
Publication Date: 7/11/2018
Citation: Cao, H., Sethumadhavan, K., Bland, J.M. 2018. Isolation of cottonseed extracts that affect human cancer cell growth. Scientific Reports. 8:10458. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-018-28773-4.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-018-28773-4

Interpretive Summary: Cottonseeds are classified as glanded or glandless seeds depending on the presence or absence of pigment glands which contain polyphenolic gossypol, the best studied bioactive component in cottonseeds. Glanded cottonseeds, rich in gossypol, may have anticancer property and glandless cottonseeds essentially free of gossypol may cause cancer in one animal study. It is important to investigate the effect of bioactive components from cottonseeds on cancer cells. The objectives of this study were to isolate ethanol extracts from glanded and glandless cottonseeds and test their biological activity in human cancer cells. We first developed a protocol for isolating bioactive extracts from seed coat and kernel of glanded and glandless cottonseeds. This method was involved in three steps for seed kernel extraction and four steps for seed coat extraction. The yield of ethanol extracts from cottonseeds was approximately 2-4%. Ethanol extracts were used to treat cultured human cancer cells derived from breast and pancreas. Our results suggest that ethanol extracts from cottonseeds contain anticancer activities. We suggest that cottonseed value could be increased by exploring bioactivity of minor components in the seeds which have potential health and nutritional benefits for cancer-related diseases.

Technical Abstract: Cottonseeds are classified as glanded or glandless seeds depending on the presence or absence of pigment glands which contain polyphenolic gossypol. Glanded cottonseeds, rich in gossypol, may have anticancer property and glandless cottonseeds essentially free of gossypol was reported to cause cancer in one animal study. It is important to investigate the effect of bioactive components from cottonseeds on cancer cells. Our objectives were to isolate ethanol extracts from glanded and glandless cottonseeds and investigate their effects on human cancer cells. A protocol was developed for isolating bioactive extracts from seed coat and kernel of glanded and glandless cottonseeds. This method was involved in three steps for seed kernel extraction (fractionation, defatting, ethanol extraction) and four steps for seed coat extraction (fractionation, defatting, acetic acid extraction, ethanol extraction). HPLC-MS analyzed the four ethanol extracts from glanded and glandless cottonseed but only quercetin was identified in the glandless seed coat extract. Ethanol extracts were used to treat human cancer cells derived from breast and pancreas followed by MTT assay for cell viability. Ethanol extracts from glanded and glandless cottonseed kernels and gossypol significantly decreased breast cancer cell mitochondrial activity. Ethanol extract from glanded cottonseed kernel and gossypol also significantly decreased pancreas cancer cell mitochondrial activity. These results suggest that ethanol extracts from cottonseeds contain anticancer activities. We suggest that cottonseed value could be increased by exploring bioactivity of minor components in the seeds which have potential health and nutritional benefits for cancer-related diseases.