Evaluation of bacterial biosurfactant activities as an anticancer and antibiofilm agent

Rhamnolipids are glycolipid biosurfactants produced by Pseudomonas sp. that can be applied in many fields, such as medicine, pharmaceuticals, cosmetics and food processing. The rhamnolipid utilized in the present study was produced from Pseudomonas aeruginosa which was isolated from hydrocarbon-contaminated soil. Different rhamnolipid concentrations were evaluated as anticancer agents against cancer cell lines, including the Hela cell line and the L20B cell line, and as antibiofilm agents against four pathogenic bacteria, including Escherichia coli, Bacillus cereus, Staphylococcus aureus and Klebsiella pneumoniae. Results showed that the rhamnolipid inhibited the proliferation of the cervical cancer cell line (Hela) during exposure. The inhibitory effect of rhamnolipid against the Hela cell line increased with the increasing concentration of rhamnolipid. The 750 µg/ml concentration recorded a higher inhibitory effect, while the 50 µg/ml concentration recorded a lower inhibitory effect against the Hela cell line. Similarly, the concentration of 750 µg/ml recorded a higher inhibitory effect, while the concentration of 62.5 µg/ml recorded a lower inhibitory effect against the L20B cell line. The results exhibited the best rhamnolipid activity as an antibiofilm agent against pathogenic bacteria at a concentration of 1 mg/ml for E. coli, B. cereus, and K. pneumoniae, while exhibiting the best antibiofilm activity against Staphylococcus aureus at a concentration of 2 mg/ml when incubated with different concentrations of rhamnolipid. The rhamnolipid showed high effectiveness as antibiofilm and anticancer agent, which constitutes a promising agent for use against pathogenic bacteria to prevent the formation of biofilm and an alternative therapeutic agent as an anticancer.