Anticancer Potentials of Root Extract of Polygala senega and Its PLGA Nanoparticles-Encapsulated Form Saili Paul,1 Soumya Sundar Bhattacharyya,1 Naoual Boujedaini,2 and Anisur Rahman Khuda-Bukhsh1
1Cytogenetics and Molecular Biology Laboratory, Department of Zoology, University of Kalyani, Kalyani 741235, India 2Boiron Laboratory, 69110 Lyon, France
Abstract Ethanolic extract of Polygala senega (EEPS) had little or no cytotoxic effects on normal lung cells, but caused cell death and apoptosis to lung cancer cell line A549. In the present paper, ethanolic root extract of P. senega (EEPS) was nanoencapsulated (size: 147.7 nm) by deploying a biodegradable poly-(lactic-co-glycolic) acid (PLGA). The small size of the NEEPS resulted in an enhanced cellular entry and greater bioavailability. The growth of cancer cells was inhibited better by NEEPS than EEPS. Both EEPS and NEEPS induced apoptosis of A549 cells, which was associated with decreased expression of survivin, PCNA mRNA, and increased expression of caspase-3, p53 mRNAs of A549 cells. The results show that the anticancer potential of the formulation of EEPS-loaded PLGA nanoparticles was more effective than EEPS per se, probably due to more aqueous dispersion after nanoencapsulation. Therefore, nanoencapsulated ethanolic root extract of P. senega may serve as a potential chemopreventive agent against lung cancer.
Conclusion In conclusion, it has been demonstrated that homeopathic mother tincture of P. senega has an anticancer effect against lung cancer cells in vitro, and PLGA encapsulation helps it to enhance its cellular uptake and anticancer potentials, presumably by increasing drug bioavailability. This should stimulate further research on nano-encapsulation of homeopathic mother tinctures, as also medicinal herbal extracts, particularly with suspected anticancer potentials, to examine whether this would prove to be a novel approach for accelerating anticancer potentials for other cases as well.
Source : Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine Volume 2011 (2011), Article ID 517204, 13 pages doi:10.1155/2011/517204 Link to Full Article