Cytotoxicity of di-rhamnolipids produced by Pseudomonas aeruginosa RA5 against human cancerous cell lines

Rhamnolipid biosurfactant produced by Pseudomonas aeruginosa , possesses non-toxicity, environmental compatibility, a wide range of pH (4–8), temperature (4–100 °C), and salinity (1–10%) stability. The application of RLs is worldwide accepted in the pharmaceutical, medicinal, and food industries. It has been used for cytotoxicity efficacy analysis with a limited number of cancerous cell lines. To widen the scope of rhamnolipid application as an anticancer agent, we have studied Di-RLs homolog, ‘Rha-Rha-C10-C10’ produced by Pseudomonas aeruginosa RA5 against human cancerous cell lines including breast cancer (MCF-7), leukemia (K-562), cervical cancer (HeLa), Lung cancer (HOP-62), and colon cancer (HT-29) in a dose-dependent way. It was purified with silica gel chromatography followed by TLC and mass spectroscopy prior to cytotoxicity analysis. With a tensiometer, critical micelle concentration of Di-RLs was estimated to be 33.92 ± 2 mN/m at 0.2%. Cytotoxicity analysis of Di-RLs on K-562 cell line demonstrated inhibition with GI50 and TGI at