Evaluating the Anticancer Potential of Zinc Oxide Nanoparticles Synthesized with Pulicaria gnaphalodes Extract

This research investigated the therapeutic effects of Pulicaria gnaphalodes (PGZO) and its nano-formulation (NPs_PGZO) in a subcutaneous tumor model of CT۲۶ colon carcinoma in Balb/c mice. This study aimed to explore the potential of these nanoparticles as a novel approach to cancer treatment, leveraging the traditional medicinal properties of Pulicaria gnaphalodes and the biocompatibility of ZnO NPs. ZnO NPs were synthesized using a green chemistry approach with Gnaphalodes pulicaria extract, which acted as a natural capping agent. The plant is first processed to obtain a hydroalcoholic extract, then mixed with a zinc salt solution and heated at ۵۰۰ C. The characterization methods used in the study were X-Ray Diffraction (XRD)m Field Emission Scanning Electron Microscopy (FESEM), Energy-Dispersive X-ray Spectroscopy (EDX) and Dynamic Light Scattering (DLS). The composition was analyzed by XRD which was predominantly composed of ZnO nanoparticles. These diffraction patterns were matched with the COD data (Entry No. ۹۶-۲۱۰-۷۰۶۰). The ZnO crystallized in a hexagonal structure within the space group P ۶۳ mc and the crystallite size calculated by the Scherrer equation was ۲۵.۷۰ nm. the FESEM images have shown various irregularly shaped particles with size of under ۵۰۰ nm. the EDX analyses also shows the purity of the prepared NPs. The DLS report showed size distribution the Z-average (mean intensity size) is ۲۱۵.۸۴ nm and the Polydispersity Index (PDI) is ۰.۳۸۸۰. The inhibitory concentration (IC۵۰) values of nanoparticles combined with PGZO (NPs_PGZO) and PGZO alone were measured. The NPs_PGZO (۵۰) formulation proved to be the most effective, as it had the lowest IC۵۰ values across all time points, indicating a higher potency over time. Conversely, PGZO was the least effective, especially considering the increase in IC۵۰ at ۷۲ hours. The flow cytometry results also confirmed MTT results. The data suggested that NPs combined with PGZ۰, particularly at the ۵۰ micro g/ml concentration, significantly enhanced caspase ۳ and caspase ۹ activity, which could be a marker for increased apoptosis. By examining the impact on tumor growth inhibition and gene expression modulation, this study displayed a significant reduction in tumor volume after ۱۴ days of treatment, especially in the groups treated with the nano-formulations, indicating the potential effectiveness of PGZO and its nano-formulation in reducing colon cancer tumor growth. The findings could pave the way for integrating traditional herbal medicine with nanotechnology in the fight against colorectal cancer.

کلیدواژه ها:

Colorectal Cancer ، Zinc Oxide Nanoparticles ، Apoptosis ، Tumor ، Nano Cancer