Chitosan nanoparticle-mediated drug delivery for linoleic acid isolated from Melastomastrum capitatum Fern. leaf extract against MCF-7 and OV7 cancer cells

Abstract

The number of cancer cases worldwide is rising, resulting in approximately 40 million deaths each year due to the inability to effectively deliver drugs that specifically target cancer cells. The study's aim was to utilize chitosan nanoparticles containing linoleic acid extracted from Melastomastrum capitatum leaves to specifically target MCF-7 and OV7 cancer cells. The study conducted toxicity tests on Wistar rats to evaluate the potential harmful effects of the extract at different doses. It also examined the extract's impact on vital organs through histopathological analysis. Chitosan nanoparticles containing the extract were developed using the spray drying method. In addition, the study analyzed various characteristics of the chitosan-loaded extract, such as % yield, drug entrapment efficiency, morphology, particle size, thermal properties, drug release, and swelling index. In vitro studies were conducted on MCF-7 and OV7 cell lines to assess the extract's anticancer properties. In vivo studies were performed on tumor-induced Wistar rats, with five rats in each of the five groups, using hemocytometer trypan blue cell counting. The study found that the crude leaf extract of M. capitatum (MCE) was well tolerated at a dose of 5000 mg/kg in rats, with only partial congestion observed in the lungs and testis. The extract exhibited higher cytotoxicity against the ovarian cancer cell line OV7 compared to the breast cancer cell line MCF-7, with an IC₅₀ value of 10.13±2.20. In vitro studies showed that a chitosan nanoparticle-loaded version of the extract (CSLA3) induced apoptosis and increased caspase-3 activity in OV7 cells. In vivo studies showed that treatment with the chitosan-loaded extract significantly increased mean survival time and percentage increase in life span in tumor-induced rats. Tumor cell volume and viable cell counts decreased, while non-viable cell count increased in the treated group. The study concluded that CSLA3 effectively inhibited the growth of ovarian cancer cells and demonstrated the potential of chitosan nanoparticles to deliver anticancer plant extracts. This also supports the traditional use of M. capitatum leaf extract as a treatment for ovarian cancer.