Differential cytotoxity of ethyl acetate extracts of Malaysian marine endophytic fungi (MKS 3.1 and SW 2.3 plate 2) against human breast cancer cell lines

The limitations of chemotherapeutic agents have called for discovery of new drugs to fight against breast cancers. Endophytes, which are microorganisms that reside within plants without causing any visible manifestations of disease, have emerged as potential source of new drugs. They have the potential to synthesise various bioactive metabolites that can be used as therapeutic agents. The present study was undertaken to assess the differential cytotoxic effects of ethyl acetate extracts, MKS 3.1 (endophytic fungus isolated from marine plants Terminalia sp.) and SW 2.3 Plate 2 (marine fungus isolated from sea water) against human breast cancer cells. The fungal cultures were first examined using gross observation and ESEM. The cultures were then extracted using rotary evaporator. MCF 7 (ER positive) and MDA 468 (ER negative) were treated with the extracts (0.01 - 100 µg/mL) for 72h. Sulforhodarnine B assay was performed and data generated were used to determine the ICso (inhibitory concentration of 50% MCF 7/ MDA 468 cells). In general, MKS 3.1 and SW 2.3 (Plate 2), which were more selective towards ER negative breast cancer cells, exhibited weak to very weak cytotoxic effects against MCF 7 and MDA 468 (> 20 µg/mL). The present findings warrant further investigation in other cancer types.