Characterization of solvents and optimization of stability and solubility of bioactive compounds used in lymphoma cell culture treatments

Phytochemicals represent one of the rising agents in cancer research today. They are recognized as one the most abundant bio-active compounds found in many different sources, specifically in plants. Their anti-cancer effects have been frequently explored and reported in various research studies. However, the bioavailability and solubility of phytochemicals still represent the major issue in in vivo and in vitro research. This report analyses the effects of three different phytochemicals, commonly used for survival interference in malignant cancer clones, including thymoquinone (TQ), curcumin, and quercetin in a model of diffuse large B cell lymphoma (DLBCL). In order to characterize the impact of solubility of these compounds to their bioactivity in the DLBCL model, three different but highly widespread solvents were used. Determination of an optimal compound - solvent association is warranted when assessing the stability and activity of phytochemicals in cells. The results of this study indicate the dose-dependent decrease in cellular viability, including the treatments with all combinations of substances and solvents. In addition, we demonstrated that the choice of the solvent greatly influenced solubility and the overall effect of the compound in cancer cells.