Achillea goniocephala Extract Loaded into Nanochitosan: In Vitro Cytotoxic and Antioxidant Activity

Abstract

The present study aimed to prepare A. goniocephala chloroform extract and evaluate antioxidant and cytotoxic effects. Then, the nanoparticles (NPs) were synthesized on the most efficient extracts and the biological activities of the free forms of the extracts were compared with the NPs forms. Antioxidant capacities of 14 extracts by column chromatography were found by FRAP, DPPH and CUPRAC methods. Again, the cytotoxic activities of all fractions were evaluated on MCF-7 and HT-29 cell lines using the XTT cell viability assay. Chitosan-tripolyphosphate (TPP) NPs were formed using the ionic gelation method of H and F extracts, which show the most active properties because of biological activities. The biological activities of the characterized NPs were also evaluated. The synthesized particle size of the NPs from two extracts obtained between 274.12 and 296.25 nm. The extract-encapsulation and loading-efficiency of the most active NPs were 77.6± 0.04% and 7.76± 0.01% for F extract and 10.2± 0.02% and 1.39± 0.07% for H extract, respectively. Anticancer activity of chitosan NPs gave better results compared to unencapsulated extracts. As a result, it was found that the A. goniocephala extract can be encapsulated in chitosan NPs and has an antioxidant and more anticancer effect than the free forms.