Anethum Graveolens Essential Oil Nanoemulsions (AGEO-NE) as an Exclusive Apoptotic Inducer in Human Lung Adenocarcinoma (A549) Cells

Abstract

Anethum graveolens essential oil (AGEO) is used as an anticancer compound that can be made more efficacious by improving its biosolubility and biocompatibility. In the current study, we aimed to improve AGEO bioactivity using the nanoemulsion-based encapsulation technique. To formulate stable AGEO-NE, an ultrasonication method was utilized. The size, stability, and morphology of the AGEO-NE was measured, and then its cytotoxic impacts were evaluated on adenocarcinomic human alveolar basal epithelial cells (A549). The ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) test was done to measure the antioxidant activity of AGEO-NE. Its cytotoxic property was analyzed by measuring the viability percentage of cancer (A549) and normal human foreskin fibroblast (HFF) cell lines after increasing AGEO-NE treatment doses. AGEO-NE apoptotic activity was evaluated by studying the flow cytometry of the cells and measuring the apoptotic gene expression profile (Cas-3 and Cas-8) in the A549 cell line. The results showed a significant correlation between the increase of AGEO-NE concentrations and decrease of cancer (A549) cell viability (p < 0.05) when AGEO-NE was compared with normal HFF cells. Thus, AGEO-NE can be an efficient novel apoptosis and antioxidant inducer for human lung cancer cells without any undesirable side effects. However, further In Vitro and In Vivo studies are needed to confirm the results.