Masoud Tavasoli - Department of Horticultural Science, Faculty of Agriculture, Shirvan Branch, Islamic Azad University, Shirvan, Iran
Maryam Tatari - Department of Agronomy, Faculty of Agriculture, Shirvan Branch, Islamic Azad University, Shirvan, Iran
Maliheh Samadi Kazemi - Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Sciences, Bojnourd Branch, Islamic Azad University, Bojnourd, Iran
Seyedeh Faezeh Taghizadeh - Department of Horticultural Sciences, Faculty of Agriculture, Ferdowsi University of Mashhad, Mashhad, Iran

Objective(s): Encapsulation of essential oils (EOs) into the nano-carrier leads to reduced EOs volatility and oxidation, as well as increased therapeutic efficiency. This study assessed the chemical composition and cytotoxic effects of cumin essential oil (CEO) and nano-encapsulation cumin essential oil (NECEO) against three cancer cell lines. Materials and Methods: Solid lipid nanoparticle (SLN) formulations were evaluated for their size, zeta potential and encapsulation efficiency (EE). Isolation of the CEO and NECEO and their chemical composition were analyzed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC/MS). Cytotoxicity of CEO and NECEO against human lung cancer (A۵۴۹), human breast cancer (MCF۷), and human prostate cancer (PC۳) was examined using MTT assay. Results: Our findings showed that in CEO and NECEO, the major component was cuminaldehyde (۲۴.۵ and ۲۶.۰%, respectively). GC/MS analysis of NECEO chemical composition exposed ۲۷ components in EOs accounting for ۹۱.۵ and ۹۸.۹% of CEO and NECEO, respectively. The results showed that solid lipid nanoparticle (SLN) induced the concentration of the main volatile components. Based on the characterization of SLN, the EE percent ranged from ۲۳.۰۰±۴.۱% to ۹۶.۲۱±۵.۵%. The loading capacity (LC) of NECEO ranged between ۰.۰۰±۰.۰ to ۷.۰۵±۰.۵%. Moreover, the yield of NECEO was ۷۹.۱۴%. Based on results, Z-average, polydispersity index, and zeta potentials of formulation were ۱۲۵۲±۲۱.۴ nm, ۰.۴۲۳±۰.۰۳, and ۱۷±۰.۵۲, respectively. The IC۵۰ value of NECEO (after ۴۸ h) against MCF۷, A۵۴۹, and PC۳ (۱۰۸, ۲۱۳, and ۱۲۴ μg/mL, respectively) was significantly lower than CEO (۲۳۱, ۲۱۹, and ۳۲۵ μg/mL, respectively). Conclusion: The results suggested that NECEO can be regarded as a promising nutrient source. These observations could be used as a basis for future experiments to further evaluate potential nanoparticles and other medicinal plant species.

Breast Cancer, Cuminum cyminum, Lung cancer, Prostate cancer, Solid lipid nanoparticle