Characterization of ankaflavin from Penicillium aculeatum and its cytotoxic properties

Abstract

The pigment was extracted from Penicillium aculeatum, purified and characterized as Ankaflavin by spectroscopic analysis. The stability of the pigment was determined under various conditions and was found to possess high stability. The cytotoxicity property of the purified pigment was determined by MTT assay in MCF-7, HCT116 and PC-3 and the studies were compared with its activity in CHOK1 cells. In MCF-7 and in CHOK 1 cells, the pigment exhibited very less toxicity. However, significant cytotoxicity was observed in HCT116 and PC-3 cells with IC₅₀ of 162 μg mL⁻¹ and 85 μg mL⁻¹ for HCT116 and PC-3 cells respectively. In vitro toxicity was tested by haemolysis assay and MTT assay in HEK 293 cells. The pigment showed least cytotoxicity (<5%) at 160 and 320 μg mL⁻¹ concentrations HEK 293 cells and negligible (<5%) toxicity on human erythrocytes at 160 and 320 μg mL⁻¹, the highest concentrations tested.

Graphical abstract

Keywords:

• Ankaflavin
• characterization
• in vitro cytotoxicity
• Penicillium aculeatum

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Additional information

Funding

The authors gratefully acknowledge the University Grants Commission, Government of India, New Delhi, India, for awarding Rajiv Gandhi National Fellowship (RGNF) (Award No. F1-17.1/2011-12/RGNF-SC-KAR-7461) to the first author. The authors also like to thank fungal identification service, Agharkar Research Institute, Pune and Geneombio Technologies, Pune for their support in the molecular identification of the organism.