Evaluation of cytotoxic and anticancer activity of prodigiosin produced by Serratia Spp.

Red pigment of Bacillus prodigiosus, now known as Serratia marcescens, were first time investigated and named in 1902. The major component was first isolated in pure form in 1929 and in next 5 years investigators elucidated the main structural features of Prodigiosin and culminated in the assignment of structure. In the present study, potent pigment producing bacteria were used which were previously isolated from soil samples collected from different regions of Baramati, Maharashtra, India. The large scale production of Prodigiosin was achieved by using optimized parameters (time of incubation, temperature of incubation, pH of the medium, speed of Agitation, carbon and nitrogen source used etc.). The effect of red pigment on normal cells was assessed by toxicity studies using trypan blue assay. It shows that pigment having very less or no toxic effect on normal cells at various concentrations (5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35, 40, 45, 50 µg/ml). The effect of various concentrations (7.8, 15.6, 31.25, 62.5, 125, 250 µg/ml) of pigment on human cancerous cells (Lymphocytes) was also determined by using flow cytometry. Apoptosis was quantified by a reduction in cell forward scatter and increase in cell side scatter in flow cytometric analysis. Study revealed that the produced red pigment may be used for production of effective anticancer drug in future.