Journal of
Medicinal Plants Research

  • Abbreviation: J. Med. Plants Res.
  • Language: English
  • ISSN: 1996-0875
  • DOI: 10.5897/JMPR
  • Start Year: 2007
  • Published Articles: 3834

Full Length Research Paper

In vitro cytotoxic activity of forage peanut (Arachis pintoi Krapov. & W.C. Greg.) oil against leukemic and tumor cell lines

Isabela Brandão de Sousa
  • Isabela Brandão de Sousa
  • Department of Cell Biology, Institute of Biology Roberto Alcantara Gomes, Rio de Janeiro State University (UERJ), Brazil.
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Girlaine Pereira da Silva
  • Girlaine Pereira da Silva
  • Department of Biochemistry, Institute of Biology Roberto Alcantara Gomes, Rio de Janeiro State University (UERJ), Brazil.
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Renata de Oliveira Garcia
  • Renata de Oliveira Garcia
  • Department of Cell Biology, Institute of Biology Roberto Alcantara Gomes, Rio de Janeiro State University (UERJ), Brazil.
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Eduardo Fonseca
  • Eduardo Fonseca
  • Department of Cell Biology, Institute of Biology Roberto Alcantara Gomes, Rio de Janeiro State University (UERJ), Brazil.
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Katia Costa de Carvalho Sabino
  • Katia Costa de Carvalho Sabino
  • Department of Biochemistry, Institute of Biology Roberto Alcantara Gomes, Rio de Janeiro State University (UERJ), Brazil.
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Graça Justo
  • Graça Justo
  • Department of Biochemistry, Institute of Biology Roberto Alcantara Gomes, Rio de Janeiro State University (UERJ), Brazil.
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Georgia Pacheco
  • Georgia Pacheco
  • Department of Cell Biology, Institute of Biology Roberto Alcantara Gomes, Rio de Janeiro State University (UERJ), Brazil.
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Elisabeth Mansur
  • Elisabeth Mansur
  • Department of Cell Biology, Institute of Biology Roberto Alcantara Gomes, Rio de Janeiro State University (UERJ), Brazil.
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  •  Received: 19 February 2024
  •  Accepted: 17 April 2024
  •  Published: 30 April 2024

Abstract

Arachis pintoi Krapov. and W.C. Greg. is widely used as forage and displays high seed productivity. Its seed oil contains high levels of phytosterols, mainly β-sitosterol, which has been associated with several biological properties, including cytotoxic activity against different types of cancer. In this study, we investigated the cytotoxic activity of its seed oil against five cancer cell lines using the MTT assay. The most representative fraction (F41) of the oil displayed higher cytotoxic potential than the crude seed extract, reducing K562 cell viability by 73% (IC50 = 85 μg/mL). Four fatty acids were detected in this fraction: 13-cis-octadecanoic, linoleic, hexanoic, and palmitic acids, whose antiproliferative activity against cancer cell lines has already been described. Therefore, this study might contribute to adding value to the forage peanut.

Key words: Arachis pintoi seed extract, cytotoxic activity, F41 fraction, MTT assay, fatty acids.