Assessment of the cytostatic, cytotoxic and antibacterial potential of aluminium (III) chloride hexahydrate

Even though aluminium does not participate in any known biochemical processin living organisms, it is omnipresent in various products intended for human consumption. This study aimed to evaluate the cytostatic and cytotoxic effects of aluminium (III) chloride hexahydrate (AlCl3) in cultured human peripheral blood lymphocytes, as well as its antimicrobial potential using agar diffusion ethod. Our results showed a significant deviation in the mitotic index (MI) values between 2.20, 2.40 and 2.50% of AlCl3 and control group. MI value decreased with an increase in the concentration of AlCl3. An increased frequency of apoptotic cells at all concentrations of the AlCl3 was detected, whereby the significantly higher frequency of apoptotic cells was detected between 2.20 and 2.30% AlCl3 and the control group. Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli were resistant to the tested compound. Inhibition zones detected in Bacillus subtilis and Pseudomonas aeruginosa were 13.67±0.58 mm at 1 mg/ml, 12.00±0.00 mm at 10 mg/ml; and 13.00±0.00 mm at 1 mg/ml, and 14.67±0.58 mm et 10 mg/ml, respectively. Our results indicate that AlCl3 possesses antiproliferative and apoptosis-inducing potential. Discrete antibacterial effects were demonstrated. Further studies are needed tostrengthen these findings.