Apoptotic Effects of Eugenol-loaded Nanoemulsions in Human Colon and Liver Cancer Cell Lines

Abstract

<b>Background:</b> In this study eugenol (EU) loaded nanoemulsions (NEs) emulsified with modified starch wereprepared and their apoptotic potential against liver and colon cancer cells was examined in comparison withbulk EU. Materials and <br/><b>Methods</b>: We prepared stable EU loaded NEs whcih were characterized by dynamiclight scattering, centrifugation and gas chromatography. Furthermore, cell viability was determined using MTTassay, and apoptosis and cell cycle analysess by flow cytometry. <br/><b>Results</b>: HB8065 (liver) and HTB37 (colon) cellswhen treated with EU:CA NEs demonstrated greater apoptotic cells percentages as evidenced by microscopicimages and flow cytometric evaluations. It was observed that EU and EU:CA NE induced apoptosis in both celllines via reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation. <br/><b>Conclusions</b>: The present study demonstrated that ROSplays a critical role in EU and EU:CA NE induced apoptosis in HB8065 and HTB37 cells. This is the first reporton the antiproliferative mechanisms of EU loaded NE.