Impact of palmitic acid-enriched supplement on pancreatic cancer (PANC-1) and its antimicrobial potential

Purpose: To investigate the anti-pancreatic cancer and antimicrobial effects of fat-enriched dietary supplements (FEDS). Method: Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) was used to screen FEDS components. The FEDS cytotoxicity (SRB) was assessed using mouse endothelial (non-cancerous, C-166 normal cells) and pancreatic cancer line (PANC-1). Antimicrobial evaluation of FEDS was conducted against different microbial strains to obtain the minimum inhibitory (MIC) and bactericidal (MBC) concentrations. Results: Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) revealed that the predominant fatty acid found in the present supplement is palmitic acid (< 75 %), followed by α-linoleic acid (7.39 %), stearic acid (5.76 %), and other polyunsaturated fatty acids (≤ 2 %). The FEDS exhibited a dose-dependent, low cytotoxic effect (0.001 -100 μg/mL) against PANC-1 pancreatic cancer cells (IC50 > 100 μg/mL) and C-166 (IC50 = 164.71). A high PA-palmitic acid-enriched supplement shows antifungal and mild antibacterial potential against common strains that contribute to pancreatic cancer development. Candida albicans, Gram-positive (Bacillus cereus, Enterococcus faecalis, and Staphylococcus aureus), and Gram-negative (Escherichia coli) strains showed MIC and MBC > 1000 μg/mL. Conclusion: This finding highlights the complex interplay between dietary fats, cytotoxicity, and antimicrobial activity in pancreatic cancer. Future studies should focus on the specific roles of different fatty acids and their interactions with the tumor microenvironment to develop targeted nutritional strategies that may improve survival and quality of life for individuals affected by pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDA).