Abstract
Cassava (Manihot esculenta Crantz) is a known source of linamarin, but difficulties associated with its isolation have prevented it from being exploited as a major source. A batch adsorption process using activated carbon proved successful in its isolation, with ultrafiltration playing a pivotal role in its purification. Thirty-two minutes of contact time was required for 60 g of extract, yielding 1.7 g of purified product. Picrate paper, infra-red and 1HNMR analysis confirmed the presence and structure of linamarin. Cytotoxic effects of linamarin on MCF-7, HT-29 and HL-60 cells were determined using the MTT assay. Cytotoxic effects were significantly increased in the presence of linamarase (β-glucosidase), with a 10–fold decrease in the IC50 values obtained for HL-60 cells. This study thus describes a method for the isolation and purification of linamarin from cassava, as well as its cytotoxicity potential.
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Acknowledgments
The authors wish to acknowledge the H.E. Griffin Cancer Trust Foundation for funding of this project.
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Idibie, C.A., Davids, H. & Iyuke, S.E. Cytotoxicity of purified cassava linamarin to a selected cancer cell lines. Bioprocess Biosyst Eng 30, 261–269 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00449-007-0122-3
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Keywords
- Linamarin
- Linamarase
- Cassava
- Adsorption
- Cytotoxicity