Citrus wastewater as a source of value‐added products: Quali‐quantitative analysis and in vitro screening on breast cancer cell lines

• Published in: Archiv der Pharmazie (Weinheim) 2024-12, Vol.357 (12), p.e2400530-n/a
• Main Authors: Raimondi, Maria Valeria, Rigogliuso, Salvatrice, Saiano, Filippo, Poma, Paola, Labbozzetta, Manuela, Barreca, Marilia, Barbera, Marcella, Bivacqua, Roberta, Li Petri, Giovanna, Buscemi, Silvestre, Sardo, Ignazio, Spanò, Virginia, Palumbo Piccionello, Antonio, Montalbano, Alessandra, Barraja, Paola, Notarbartolo, Monica
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic - chemical synthesis; Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic - chemistry; Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic - pharmacology; antioxidant properties; antiproliferative activity; Breast cancer; Breast Neoplasms - drug therapy; Breast Neoplasms - pathology; Cell Line, Tumor; Cell Proliferation - drug effects; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; Citrus - chemistry; citrus wastewater; Doxorubicin - pharmacology; Drug Resistance, Multiple - drug effects; Drug Resistance, Neoplasm - drug effects; Drug Screening Assays, Antitumor; Female; HPLC/MS Q‐TOF analysis; Humans; MCF-7 Cells; nobiletin; Wastewater - chemistry
• ISSN: 0365-6233; 1521-4184; 1521-4184
• DOI: 10.1002/ardp.202400530

Citrus wastewater from industries is a source of bioactive compounds whose recovery could be a useful approach to convert processing waste into potential resources to be exploited in food, pharmaceutical, and chemical companies. Citrus wastewater, obtained from the industrial processing of Citrus sinensis, was freeze‐dried and qualitative/quantitative evaluated using HPLC/MS Q‐TOF analysis. Antiproliferative activity was investigated on MDA‐MB‐231 (triple‐negative breast cancer cell line), MCF‐7 (breast cancer cell line), and its multidrug‐resistant variant MCF‐7R. Fraction 8 emerged for its cytotoxicity toward MCF‐7R cells. Its main component, the polymethoxylated flavone nobiletin (80%), is likely involved in increasing the number of G1‐phase MCF‐7R cells without inducing cell death. Notably, fraction 8 sensitizes MCF7‐R cells to the antiproliferative effects of doxorubicin, thus contributing to overcoming MCF7‐R multidrug resistance. Our studies highlighted the possibility of applying a sustainable strategy for citrus wastewater recycling to recover functional compounds as useful adjuvants for the prevention and treatment of malignancies. Citrus wastewater obtained from the industrial processing of Citrus sinensis proved to be a valuable source of bioactive compounds. Polymethoxylated flavone nobiletin was revealed to be the main component of fraction 8, which emerged for its cytotoxicity toward MCF‐7R cells and for its ability to sensitize MCF7‐R cells to the antiproliferative effects of doxorubicin.