Comparison of Niosomal formulation of citrus limon peel extracts and doxorubicin effects on MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231 human breast cancer cells

Niosome represents a practical approach for targeted the in vitro delivery of phytochemicals and drugs to cells. also it is a promising delivery system for plant extracts and reduces the side effects of burst release of doxorubicin. Ethanolic lemon peel extract (EE), methanolic extract (ME), and doxorubicin (DOXO) were formulated into ethanolic, methanolic, and doxorubicin niosomal formulations, denoted as NIO/EE, NIO/ME, and NIO/DOXO, respectively. These formulations were applied to MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231 breast cancer cell lines for a duration of 48 h. The cells' apoptosis/necrosis and migration rates were measured using Annexin V/PI staining and wound healing assays. Gene expression was measured by qPCR. The results show that NIO/EE and NIO/ME treatments notably elevated the apoptosis rate to unformulated extracts (P < 0.0001). However, NIO/DOXO has significantly milder cytotoxicity than DOXO. The extracts significantly inhibited the migration of both cell lines (P < 0.0001). An increase in FAS expression (****P < 0.0001) and a decreased expression level of VIMENTIN, SNAIL, and JNK-2 genes (***P < 0.001, ****P < 0.0001) is shown in all two cell lines treated with niosomal formulation containing NIO/EE and NIO/ME that confirmed apoptosis induction and migration inhibition by encapsulated extracts. The study aims to evaluate the enhanced anticancer activity usefulness of noisome-encapsulating lemon peel extracts and doxorubicin on breast cancer cells. Further research will reveal the in vivo effects of the extracts in animal models.