Effect of Nanonutraceuticals in Delaying Cancer

Abstract

Abstract newlineCancer is one of the primary reasons for death all over the world and more than 1 million new cases are reported every year. Cancer therapy is limited to radiation, chemotherapy, and surgery. Among the various fields of science, nanotechnology deals with nanomaterials in the size range of several hundred nanometers. Due to the increased surface area to volume ratio, these nanomaterials can provide enhanced physicochemical properties. Nanotechnology helps to target specific sites and sustained drug release, and this property helps to reduce the side effects caused by the chemotherapeutic treatment of cancer. Phytochemicals, which are derived from plants, have numerous biological activities, among them the antioxidant activity of them, that guard cells from oxidative damage and decrease the risk of cancer. Researchers are investigating plant-derived extracts for the potential anticancer properties possessed by them. In this study, the ethanolic extract from the leaves of Passiflora incarnata (EP) was isolated, then formulated it into nanoparticles using synthesized liposomes. The nanoformulation (N-EP) was characterized through various photophysical techniques, and its anticancer effects were compared with those of the ethanolic extract across a spectrum of cancer cell lines. We analyzed the toxic effect of EP and N-EP in the in vivo and in vitro models (Swiss albino mice and zebrafish embryos) and the biocompatibility of the extracts using hemolysis. The antitumor effect of N-EP was explored in vivo using Dalton lymphoma ascites (DLA)-bearing mice. Our results indicate that N-EP enhanced stability, reduced particle size, and induced necrosis in cancer cells with a dose-dependent inhibitory effect on cancer cell growth, significantly reducing toxicity to normal cells. Zebrafish model toxicity evaluations revealed no developmental deformities at 100 and#956;g/ml concentrations for both EP and N-EP. Sub-acute toxicity and acute studies in mice confirmed the safety of EP and N-EP at doses below 600 mg/kg. Haemolytic assays established the high biocompatibility of N-EP, showing less than 2% hemolysis. In vivo, N-EP administration effectively delayed tumor growth, lessened body newlineweight gain, and extended the lifespan of tumor-bearing mice. Gene expression investigation revealed a significant elevation of the tumor suppressor gene p53 in N-EP treated animals. Cell viability studies on DLA cells indicated that N-EP treatment resulted in approximately 80% cell death, primarily through apoptosis. Additionally, N-EP treatment reduced vessel branching points and vessel thickness in the Chorioallantoic membrane, indicating potential antiangiogenic activity. This comprehensive study underscores the potential of N-EP to retard tumor growth by upregulating p53 gene expression and inducing apoptosis, making it a promising candidate for cancer therapy. newline