Preferential cytotoxic effect of Vaccinium sect. Cyanococcus fruit extract in human lung cancer cells related to normal cells

The study aimed to assess the preferential cytotoxicity of the Vaccinium sect. Cyanococcus fruit extract (VCFE) in human lung cancer cells (A549) related to human normal/healthy kidney cells (HEK-293). VCFE was extracted using ethanol following the cold maceration technique. A qualitative phytochemical profile showed that VCFE was rich in phenolics and flavonoids. A quantitative phytochemical profile showed that one g of VCFE was found to contain 26.31 ± 1.09 mg gallic acid equivalent, GAE, 37.10 ± 1.82 mg quercetin equivalent, and 6.27 ± 0.39 mg tannic acid equivalent of total phenolics, total flavonoids, and total tannins, respectively. The EC₅₀ value (effective concentration required to inhibit 50% of free radicals) of VCFE in ABTS free radical, DPPH free radical, and FRAP antioxidant assays was determined as 372.81 ± 20.58, 414.63 ± 33.08, and 504.58 ± 27.76 μg/ mL, respectively. The IC₅₀ value (concentration required to inhibit 50% of cell viability) of VCFE in human lung cancer cells (A549) and human normal kidney cells (HEK-293) was determined as 262.41 ± 23.03 and 608.05 ± 37.92 μg/mL, respectively. The findings revealed that the concentration of VCFE needed to inhibit the growth of A549 cancer cells was substantially lower than that needed to inhibit the growth of HEK-293 normal cells, demonstrating VCFE's selective cytotoxicity for cancer cells. The study concluded that VCFE might be effective in developing specific cancer-fighting medications.