Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Cytotoxicity of purified cassava linamarin to a selected cancer cell lines

  • Original Paper
  • Published:
Bioprocess and Biosystems Engineering Aims and scope Submit manuscript

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.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5
Fig. 6
Fig. 7

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Lancaster PA, Ingram JS, Lim MY, Coursey DG (1982) Traditional cassava-based foods. Survey of processing technique. Econ Bot 36:12–45

    Google Scholar 

  2. Yeoh HH, Tetsu T, Noboru O (1998) Monitoring the cyanogenic potential of cassava: the trend towards biosensor development. Trends Anal Chem 17:234–240

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  3. Hansen LP (1985) The potential of rice yeast in aiding hunger problems of young children. Cereal Food World 30:182–185

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  4. Oke OL (1969) The role of hydrocyanic acid in nutrition. In Bourne GH, Karger S (eds) World review of nutrition and dietetics, vol 2, Basel, pp 170–198

  5. Pooman VP, Hahn SK (1984) An automated enzymatic assay for determining the cyanide content of cassava (Manihot esculenta Crantz) and cassava products. J Sci Food Agric 35:426–436

    Article  Google Scholar 

  6. Siritunga D, Sayre RT (2003) Generation of cyanogens-free transgenic cassava. Planta 217:367–373

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  7. Nestel BL (1973) In chronic cassava toxicity. In: MacIntyre R (ed) Proceeding of an interdisciplinary workshop on chronic cassava toxicity, International Development Research center, IDRC-010e, Ottawa, pp 163

  8. Grindley BAP, Omoruyi IF, Asemota NH, Morrison YSE (2002) Carbohydrate digestion and interstinal ATPases in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats fed extract of yam (Dioscorea cayenesis or dasheen Colocasia asculenta). Nutr Res 22:333–341

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  9. Iyuke SE, Yusuf UF, Razil R, Fakhuru AI, Billa N, Achike FI (2004) Antitumoral action of linamarin and cassava tissue extracts. In: Proceedings of engineering for life. The 7th World Congress Chemical Engineering, vol 140, Scotland, pp 2–15

  10. Seigler DS (1975) Isolation and characterization of naturally occurring cyanogenic compounds. Phytochem 14:9–29

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  11. Cooke RD (1978) An enzymatic assay for the total cyanide content of cassava (Manihot esculenta Crantz). J Sci Food Agric 29:345–352

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  12. Jennifer MM, Wanda LBW, Richard TS (1995) Cyanogenesis in cassava (Manihot esculenta Crantz). J Exp Bot 46:731–741

    Article  Google Scholar 

  13. Huhges MA, Dunn MA (1982) Biochemical characterization of the Li Locus, which controls the activity of the cyanogenic β-glucosidase in Trifoliun, repens L. J Plant Mol Bio 1:169–181

    Article  Google Scholar 

  14. Egan SE, Yeoh H, Bradbury H (1998) Simple picrate paper kit for determination of the cyanogenic potential of cassava flour. J Sci Food Agric 76:39–48

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  15. Bradbury JH, Egan SV, Lynch MJ (1991) Analysis of cyanide in cassava using acidhydrolysis of cyanogenic glucosides. J Sci Food Agric 55:277–290

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  16. Mossman T (1983) Rapid colimetric assay for cellular growth and survival: application to proliferation and cytotoxicity assays. J Immunol Methods 65:55–63

    Article  Google Scholar 

  17. Igleeias C, Mayer J, Charez L, Calle F (1997) Genetic potential and stability of carotene content of cassava roots. Euphytica 94:367–373

    Article  Google Scholar 

  18. Srikanth G (1999) Membrane separation process-technology and business. Chem Eng World, XXXIV:55–66

    Google Scholar 

  19. Mohr CM, Engelgan DE, Leeper SA, Charboneau BL (1989) Membrane technology review: membrane applications and research in food processing. Noyes Data Corporation, New Jersey

    Google Scholar 

  20. Nakao S, Kimuras S (1981) Effect of gel layer rejection and fractionation of different molecular weight solutes by ultrafiltration, in synthetic membranes: hyperfiltration and ultrafiltration uses. Amemerica Chemical Society USA

    Google Scholar 

  21. Haris JL (1986) Influence of gel layer rheology on Ultrafiltration flux of wheat starch effluent J. Mem Sci 29:97–109

    Article  Google Scholar 

  22. Haris JL, Dobos M (1989) Enhanced Ultrafiltration Flux rates by enzymatic hydrolysis in protein recovery from wheat starch effluent. J Mem Sci 41:87–102

    Article  Google Scholar 

  23. Kipling JJ (1965) Adsorption from solution of non-electrolytes. Academic, London

    Google Scholar 

  24. Mantell CL (1951) Adsorption, 2nd edn. McGraw-Hill, USA

    Google Scholar 

  25. Clapp RC, Bisset FH, Coburn RA, Long L Jr (1966) Cyanogenesis in manioc: linamarin and isolinamarin. Phyto 5:1323–1326

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  26. Eberhard B (1993) Structural elucidation by NMR in organic chemistry. A practical guide. Wiley, England

    Google Scholar 

  27. Hunsa P, Chulabhorn M, Somsak R, Uma P, Pittaya T, Unchare T, Waltor CT, Chaveng P, Brian WS, Allen W (1995) Cyanogenic and non-cyanogenic glucosides from Manihot esculenta. Phytochem 40:1167–1173

    Article  Google Scholar 

  28. Link N, Aubel C, Kelm JM, Marty RR, Greber D, Djovo V, Bourhis J, Weber W, Fussenegger M (2006) Therapeutic protein transduction of mammalian cells and mice by Nucleic acid-free lentiviral nanoparticles. Nucleic Acids Res 43:16

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgments

The authors wish to acknowledge the H.E. Griffin Cancer Trust Foundation for funding of this project.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Chemical and Metallurgical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa

    Christopher Avwoghokoghene Idibie & Sunny Esayegbemu Iyuke

  2. Department of Pharmacy and Pharmacology, Faculty of Health Science, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa

    Hajierah Davids

Authors
  1. Christopher Avwoghokoghene Idibie
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Hajierah Davids
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Sunny Esayegbemu Iyuke
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Christopher Avwoghokoghene Idibie.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

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

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00449-007-0122-3

Keywords

Search

Navigation