Raspberry seeds extract selectively inhibits the growth of human lung cancer cells in vitro

This study was focused on in vitro cytotoxicity screening of the raspberry seeds methanol extract towards a number of cancer cell lines of human origin. The tested extract at the preferred concentrations (IC50 lt 30 mu g/mL) inhibited only the growth of the lung cancer A-549 cells (IC50 = 14.07 +/- 0.96 mu g/mL). At the same time, it was practically inactive (IC50 >300 mu g/mL) and non-mutagenic towards normal MRC-5 lung cells. Finally, the extract potently scavenged both OH center dot (IC50 = 20.11 +/- 1.77 mu g/mL) and O2-center dot (IC50 = 47.23 +/- 3.82 mu g/mL), the free radicals of proved relevance for cancer pathophysiology. Though seeds were enriched with phenolic compounds (TPC = 5.21 +/- 0.07 mg GAE/g), anthocyanins were present in traces only (TAC = 0.07 +/- 0.003 mg cyn-3-glu/g), while flavonoids were not detected at all. This is the first report on anti-lung cancer potential of the seeds of any soft fruit