Research Article

Sreening of L-Asparaginase from indigenous Indonesian plants as a potential anticancer agent to Mcf-7 breast and A549 lung cancer cells

Volume: 30 Number: 2 March 15, 2026

Sreening of L-Asparaginase from indigenous Indonesian plants as a potential anticancer agent to Mcf-7 breast and A549 lung cancer cells

Abstract

L-Asparaginase (L-Asp) is an enzyme utilized for treatment of acute lymphoblastic leukemia. The current bacterial L-Asp therapy often leads to undesirable side effects. L-Asp derived from plants of the Solanaceae and Fabaceae families may offer reduced side effects. The study aims to identify plants from these families with L-Asp activity. Initially, 11 plant species were selected: Crude protein was extracted using a 1 M potassium phosphate buffer at pH 8.6, with a plant-to-buffer ratio of 1:2. The extract was assessed for L-Asp activity using the Nessler reaction and protein content was also determined. The crude enzyme's specific activity was calculated, identifying one extract as a promising L-Asp candidate. Subsequently, optimal conditions for L-Asp activity were determined and isolation of L-Asp candidates involved salting out, dialysis, chromatography, Native PAGE, passive elution, enzyme activity and anticancer assay. The Archidendron pauciflorum seed extract exhibited significant characteristics: crude protein content of 237.08 µg/mL, L-Asp activity of 242.84 Units/mL, and specific activity of 1,024 Units/µg. Optimal activity was observed at 40⁰C, using 0.5 M potassium phosphate buffer at pH 8.8. Protein isolation indicated the L-Asp candidate's molecular weight ± 70 kDa, with activity and specific activity values of 240.74 Units/mL and 0.129 Units/µg. Anticancer assay showed that the acyive protein induced cytotoxic effects on MCF-7 and A549 cancer cells with an IC50 value of 6.43 and 8.07 U/ml. The cytotoxic activity of the active protein against these two types of cancer cells is classified as moderate and has potential as an anti-cancer agent.

Keywords

Thanks

This research was funded by Ministry of Education, Culture, Research, and Technolog, Imdonesia with contract number 148/E5/PG.02.00.PL/2023

References

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Details

Primary Language

English

Subjects

Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, Pharmacology and Pharmaceutical Sciences (Other)

Journal Section

Research Article

Publication Date

March 15, 2026

Submission Date

February 11, 2025

Acceptance Date

June 28, 2025

Published in Issue

Year 2026 Volume: 30 Number: 2

APA
Rostinawati, T., Tjitraresmi, A., Saptarini, N. M., Ziska, R., Amalia, R., Azalia, A. S., & Nababan, H. A. (2026). Sreening of L-Asparaginase from indigenous Indonesian plants as a potential anticancer agent to Mcf-7 breast and A549 lung cancer cells. Journal of Research in Pharmacy, 30(2), 467-481. https://doi.org/10.12991/jrespharm.1636574
AMA
1.Rostinawati T, Tjitraresmi A, Saptarini NM, et al. Sreening of L-Asparaginase from indigenous Indonesian plants as a potential anticancer agent to Mcf-7 breast and A549 lung cancer cells. J. Res. Pharm. 2026;30(2):467-481. doi:10.12991/jrespharm.1636574
Chicago
Rostinawati, Tina, Ami Tjitraresmi, Nyi Mekar Saptarini, et al. 2026. “Sreening of L-Asparaginase from Indigenous Indonesian Plants As a Potential Anticancer Agent to Mcf-7 Breast and A549 Lung Cancer Cells”. Journal of Research in Pharmacy 30 (2): 467-81. https://doi.org/10.12991/jrespharm.1636574.
EndNote
Rostinawati T, Tjitraresmi A, Saptarini NM, Ziska R, Amalia R, Azalia AS, Nababan HA (March 1, 2026) Sreening of L-Asparaginase from indigenous Indonesian plants as a potential anticancer agent to Mcf-7 breast and A549 lung cancer cells. Journal of Research in Pharmacy 30 2 467–481.
IEEE
[1]T. Rostinawati et al., “Sreening of L-Asparaginase from indigenous Indonesian plants as a potential anticancer agent to Mcf-7 breast and A549 lung cancer cells”, J. Res. Pharm., vol. 30, no. 2, pp. 467–481, Mar. 2026, doi: 10.12991/jrespharm.1636574.
ISNAD
Rostinawati, Tina - Tjitraresmi, Ami - Saptarini, Nyi Mekar - Ziska, Rahma - Amalia, Riezki - Azalia, Aisyah Sadira - Nababan, Harmony Anastasya. “Sreening of L-Asparaginase from Indigenous Indonesian Plants As a Potential Anticancer Agent to Mcf-7 Breast and A549 Lung Cancer Cells”. Journal of Research in Pharmacy 30/2 (March 1, 2026): 467-481. https://doi.org/10.12991/jrespharm.1636574.
JAMA
1.Rostinawati T, Tjitraresmi A, Saptarini NM, Ziska R, Amalia R, Azalia AS, Nababan HA. Sreening of L-Asparaginase from indigenous Indonesian plants as a potential anticancer agent to Mcf-7 breast and A549 lung cancer cells. J. Res. Pharm. 2026;30:467–481.
MLA
Rostinawati, Tina, et al. “Sreening of L-Asparaginase from Indigenous Indonesian Plants As a Potential Anticancer Agent to Mcf-7 Breast and A549 Lung Cancer Cells”. Journal of Research in Pharmacy, vol. 30, no. 2, Mar. 2026, pp. 467-81, doi:10.12991/jrespharm.1636574.
Vancouver
1.Tina Rostinawati, Ami Tjitraresmi, Nyi Mekar Saptarini, Rahma Ziska, Riezki Amalia, Aisyah Sadira Azalia, Harmony Anastasya Nababan. Sreening of L-Asparaginase from indigenous Indonesian plants as a potential anticancer agent to Mcf-7 breast and A549 lung cancer cells. J. Res. Pharm. 2026 Mar. 1;30(2):467-81. doi:10.12991/jrespharm.1636574