Anti-proliferative Effect of Isoflavones Isolated from Soybean and Soymilk Powder on Lymphoma (DG 75) and Leukemia (CEM) Cell Lines

Aim: Isoflavones in soybean have been linked to reduced risk of some cardiovascular diseases as well as some type of cancers. Extensive epidemiological, in-vitro and animal data suggests lower incidence of cardiovascular disease, hormone-dependent cancers of the breast and prostate, for consumers of soy and soy products. In this study, isoflavones were isolated from Soybean (SB) and soymilk powder (SMP) and the anti-proliferative effects of these isoflavones on Burkitt’s lymphoma (DG-75) and Leukemia (CEM) cell lines were investigated.
Place of Study: Department of Clinical Pathology, Noguchi Memorial Institute of Medical Research, University of Ghana, Accra, Ghana between June and December, 2014.
Methodology: Isoflavanoids were isolated and HPLC done to confirm the isolate. Isoflavanoids were isolated form SB and SMP and the anti-proliferative effect of isoflavanoid isolated from SB, SMP, pure genistein and daidzein on lymphoma and leukaemia cells were compared using tetrazolium-based colorimetric (MTT) assay.
Results: The inhibitory effect of genistein on leukemia (CEM) cell line was stronger (IC50 = 28.4 µM) than daidzein (IC50 = >100 µM). For the DG 75, genistein had a better effect (IC50 = 11.05 µM than daidzein (IC50> 100 µM). The IC50 for SMP were 193.92 µg/ml (DG-75) and 54.17 µg/ml (CEM). In terms of selectivity index (SI), genistein had the highest (>6.95) on CEM followed by genistein (>3.52) and then SB (>1.16).
Conclusion: SMP had a better anti-proliferative effect on both CEM and DG-75 compared with SB.