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Published in: BMC Complementary Medicine and Therapies 1/2021

Open Access 01-12-2021 | Melanoma | Research

Chitosan nanoparticles containing limonene and limonene-rich essential oils: potential phytotherapy agents for the treatment of melanoma and breast cancers

Authors: Hiva Alipanah, Mojtaba Farjam, Elham Zarenezhad, Ghazaal Roozitalab, Mahmoud Osanloo

Published in: BMC Complementary Medicine and Therapies | Issue 1/2021

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Abstract

Background

Melanoma and breast cancers are two common cancers worldwide. Due to the side effects of chemotherapy drugs and the occurring resistance against them, the development of green drugs has been received more attention.

Methods

The anticancer effects of three essential oils from the Citrus family and their identified major constituents (limonene) were first investigated against melanoma and breast cancer cell lines (A-375 and MDA-MB-468). By preparing chitosan nanoparticles containing them, an attempt was then made to improve their effectiveness.

Results

Chitosan nanoparticles containing Citrus sinensis and Citrus limon essential oils with IC50s of 0.03 and 0.124 μg/mL on A-375 cells, and 23.65 and 40.32 μg/mL on MDA-MB-468 showed distinct anticancer efficacies.

Conclusion

The prepared formulations could thus be considered as green anticancer agents in complementary medicine and therapies.
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Metadata
Title
Chitosan nanoparticles containing limonene and limonene-rich essential oils: potential phytotherapy agents for the treatment of melanoma and breast cancers
Authors
Hiva Alipanah
Mojtaba Farjam
Elham Zarenezhad
Ghazaal Roozitalab
Mahmoud Osanloo
Publication date
01-12-2021
Publisher
BioMed Central
Published in
BMC Complementary Medicine and Therapies / Issue 1/2021
Electronic ISSN: 2662-7671
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1186/s12906-021-03362-7

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