Anticancer and Antibacterial Effects of Blueberry Fruit (Vaccinium corymbosum L.) in Three Developmental Stages

Background and Aim: Blueberries, scientifically known as Vaccinium corymbosum L., contain various secondary metabolites such as flavonoids and phenolic acids. These compounds are recognized for their potential in preventing cancer and antimicrobial properties. Materials and Methods: The extract's antibacterial activity was assessed using the time-killing assay, while its anticancer activity was evaluated using the MTT assay. Results & Conclusion: The findings from the antibacterial tests revealed that the fruit extracts exhibited minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) at concentrations of ۳.۵-۴.۲ mg/mL and ۵.۶-۵.۹ mg/mL, respectively. Furthermore, the MTT assay demonstrated that the blueberry extract displayed cytotoxic effects on cancer cell lines (HeLa and MCF۷), while it showed no significant cytotoxicity on normal cells (L۹۲۹). Treatment with the unripe blueberry fruit extract significantly decreased the viability of cancer cells compared to the other extracts. Specifically, the highest level of cellular toxicity among all extracts was observed in the HeLa cancer cell line at a concentration of ۱.۵ mg/L after ۷۲ hours (more than ۹۰%). Based on these findings, it can be concluded that blueberry fruit extract possesses enhanced antibacterial and anticancer properties. Moreover, this study indicated that the early stages of fruit growth exhibit greater cytotoxic effects against cancer and bacterial cells. These results significantly affect the food, pharmaceutical, and plant biotechnology industries.