Antioxidant and apoptotic potential of protein isolates derived from Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp |
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Authors: | Dinelle Thumbrain Depika Dwarka Abe S. Gerrano John J. Mellem |
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Affiliation: | 1. Department of Biotechnology and Food Technology, Durban University of Technology, PO Box 1334, Durban, 4000 South Africa;2. Agricultural Research Council-Vegetable and Ornamental Plant Institute, Private Bag X293, Pretoria, 0001 South Africa |
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Abstract: | Projected mortalities from cancer are expected to continue escalating, with conventional chemotherapeutic regimens having extensive side effects, hence the need for therapeutics capable of terminating cancer cells selectively, through apoptosis. Therapeutic protein isolates bind specifically to target proteins inducing cell death in vitro and in vivo in various cancer cells. Therefore, this study aimed at observing the antioxidant and anticancer potential of protein isolates from five cowpea cultivars (Glenda, Embu buff, Makhatini, Veg Cowpea 2 and Veg Cowpea 3). Cytotoxicity was conducted on cancerous and non-cancerous cell lines. Apoptosis was quantified using flow cytometry, and caspase-3/7 activity was determined. Cytotoxicity assays revealed that Embu buff was the pre-eminent inhibitor of cancerous cells, while also acting as a protecting mediator in a stressed non-cancerous cell line by causing a reversal in apoptotic activity. Therefore, cowpea isolates show high potential as candidates for the therapeutic intrusion of cancer. |
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Keywords: | Antioxidant apoptosis cowpea cytotoxicity |
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