In Vitro Cytotoxic Effect of Andrographolide On MDA-MB-231-LM2 Breast Cancer Cells and Its Formulation and Characterization As An Emulsion

doi.org/10.26538/tjnpr/v4i1.1

Abstract

Andrographolide, a potential chemotherapeutic agent elicits its anticancer activity on various cancer types by activating multiple cell death pathways thereby possessing the intrinsic ability to combat resistance. The andrographolide molecule however is poorly soluble in water (74 µg/mL) resulting in reduced efficacy; hence, the need for its formulation into appropriate dosage form. The study is aimed at investigating the in vitro cytotoxic potency of andrographolide on MDA-MB-231-LM2 breast cancer cells with subsequent formulation and characterization of andrographolide emulsions. In vitro cytotoxic effect of andrographolide on MDA-MB-231-LM2 breast cancer cells was investigated via the MTS (3-(4,5-Dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-5-(3-carboxymethoxyphenyl)-2-(4- sulfophenyl)-2H-tetrazolium) assay, andrographolide was formulated as an emulsion using olive oil, castor oil and liquid paraffin respectively. The formulations were characterized by determining the emulsion type, particle size, flow rate, viscosity and andrographolide content. Andrographolide was found to be cytotoxic to MDA-MB-231-LM2 breast cancer cells having an IC50 (concentration required to cause 50% reduction in viable cells) value of 25.96 µM. The formulations contained particles between 6.53 to 14.4 µm size; formulations containing olive oil and liquid paraffin had smaller particle size and higher viscosity than the castor oil formulation. The olive oil emulsion had lower flow rate. All formulations were of the oil-in-water emulsion type containing 98.3 – 104.2% andrographolide. Andrographolide exhibits cytotoxic activity on MDA-MB-231-LM2 cells. Its emulsion formulations containing olive oil and liquid paraffin as oil phase possess desirable physicochemical properties than the castor oil formulation.