RESUMO
Since ancient times, essential oils (EOs) derived from aromatic plants have played a significant role in promoting human health. EOs are widely used in biomedical applications due to their medicinal properties. EOs and their constituents have been extensively studied for treating various health-related disorders, including cancer. Nonetheless, their biomedical applications are limited due to several drawbacks. Recent advances in nanotechnology offer the potential for utilising EO-loaded nanoparticles in the treatment of various diseases. In this aspect, chitosan (CS) appears as an exceptional encapsulating agent owing to its beneficial attributes. This review highlights the use of bioactive EOs and their constituents against breast cancer cells. Challenges associated with the use of EOs in biomedical applications are addressed. Essential information on the benefits of CS as an encapsulant, the advantages of nanoencapsulated EOs, and the cytotoxic actions of CS-based nanoencapsulated EOs against breast cancer cells is emphasised. Overall, the nanodelivery of bioactive EOs employing polymeric CS represents a promising avenue against breast cancer cells in preclinical studies.
RESUMO
Nanoencapsulation has appeared as an alternative approach to protect the bioactive constituents of essential oils (EOs) and to improve their properties. In this study, Cynometra cauliflora essential oils (CCEOs) were nanoencapsulated in chitosan nanoparticles (CSNPs) using an emulsion-ionic gelation technique. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) images illustrated a well dispersion and spherical shape of C. cauliflora EOs-loaded chitosan nanoparticles (CCEOs-CSNPs) with an average size of less than 100 nm. In addition to that, Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, dynamic light scattering (DLS) and X-ray diffraction (XRD) analyses revealed the success of CCEOs nanoencapsulation. The encapsulation efficiency (EE) was in the range of 38.83% to 44.16% while the loading capacity (LC) reached 32.55% to 33.73%. The antioxidant activity (IC50) of CCEOs-CSNPs was ranged from 21.65 to 259.13 µg/mL when assessed using DPPH radical scavenging assay. CCEOs-CSNPs showed an appreciable antimicrobial effects on diabetic wound microorganisms. Notably, cytotoxic effects against human breast cancer MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231 cells recorded IC50 of 3.72-17.81 µg/mL and 16.24-17.65 µg/mL, respectively, after 72 h treatment. Interestingly, no cytotoxicity against human breast normal MCF-10A cells was observed. Thus, nanoencapsulation using CSNPs could improve the properties of CCEOs in biomedical related applications.