Nanoformulation of cinnamon oil/usnic acid blend: - An attempt to improve chemopreventive effect and reduce hepatotoxicity

Abstract

Introduction: Natural originated substance are a common alternative for prevention and treatment of various type of cancer. Usnic acid also have a good potential as chemopreventive agent. But its low water solubility and hepatotoxicity, restrict use of this as chemopreventive agent. So here attempt has been focused to formulate cinnamon oil and Usnic acid blend nanoemulsion (CUN), for improvement of chemopreventive effect and reduce hepatotoxicity of Usnic acid. Material and method: A series of Nanoemulsion (NE) were prepared using ethanol (Co-surfactant) and Tween-80 (Surfactant) by using ultrasonic emulsification method. CUN antitumor activity was evaluated on an BL16-F10 melanoma tumor cell implanted in C57BL/6 mice and estimated by percentage tumor inhibition. CUN sub chronic toxicity were evaluated by Biochemical estimation of blood and histopathological study of liver. Result: CUN improved the activity of usnic acid by 51.81% in contrast with its cinnamon oil/ usnic acid blend form (CUB). Hepatocytes vacuolization and lymphocytes infiltration in portal area was observed in animal treated with CUB. However, this hepatotoxicity was significantly reduced when animal were treated with CUN. Conclusion: Result of the present study suggested that CUN had potent antitumor activity with reducing hepatotoxicity of usnic acid.