Vol. 7, Issue 2, Part G (2025)

Natural products have played an important role in cancer therapy. Also, endophytic fungi produce secondary metabolites with a high potential for tumour suppression. The present study was designed to evaluate in vitro antiproliferative activity of an endophytic Aspergillus subramanianii (GenBank MT755962), isolated from Gyrinops walla in Vero, RD and MCF-7 cells. The Crude ethyl acetate extract (CEAE) of endophytic A. subramanianii was assayed for antioxidant potential by DPPH and ABTS assays. The CEAE was subjected to brine shrimp lethality assay to determine the cytotoxicity. MTT assay and protein content were performed to evaluate antiproliferative potential against Vero, RD and MCF-7 cells at different time intervals after exposure to the CEAE. Oxidative stress was evaluated by analysing GSH and NO levels in RD and MCF-7 cells after 24 h exposure. DNA fragmentation and microscopic examination of cells stained with ethidium bromide/acridine orange (EB/AO) were used to visualize apoptosis. The mean IC₅₀ values were 88.2±7.9 and 42.9±4.9 μg/ml for DPPH and ABTS assays respectively. The brine shrimp assay showed a mean LC₅₀ of 1242.5±3.4 µg/ml. RD cells showed the highest antiproliferative activity followed by MCF-7 cells over the time periods investigated. Both cancer cell lines showed a dose-dependent decrease in total protein content, GSH and NO levels. DNA fragmentation and EB/AO assays exhibited induced apoptosis after treatment with the CEAE. The CEAE has exhibited antiproliferative potential against both RD and MCF-7 cancer cell lines compared to the normal cell line and has induced apoptosis via oxidative stress.