Phylogenetic Analysis and Bioactivity of Soil-Derived Nocardiopsis Species: Antibacterial and Anticancer Potentials against MCF7 and HCT16 Cell

Soil microorganisms, especially actinomycetes from the Actinobacteria species, are a valuable source of therapeutic compounds. They are known for producing abundant bioactive metabolites. Given the rise of drug-resistant pathogens, exploring new sources for novel antibacterial agents is crucial. In this study, a bacterial strain, Nocardiopsis dassonvillei DSM 43111, was isolated from sandy soil in Giza, Egypt. This study represents the first investigation into the biological effects of this strain, which was tested against five bacterial species to assess its bactericidal properties. The study explored the cytotoxic effects on the normal BHK cell line and anticancer activity against MCF7 and HCT16 cell lines. Nocardiopsis dassonvillei DSM 43111 demonstrated noteworthy anticancer activity against MCF7 and HCT16 cell lines, suggesting its promise for cancer therapy. However, slight cytotoxicity was observed against normal BHK cells, indicating the need for further investigation into the bioactive compounds from isolated actinomycete metabolites. Additionally, disc diffusion tests confirmed the strain's strong bactericidal potential toward the studied infectious bacterial pathogens. In light of these results, soil microbes have tremendous promise as sources of new medicinal molecules. Moreover, the current study introduces Nocardiopsis species as a promising candidate, warranting further exploration in cancer and antibacterial drug discovery endeavors.