DEVELOPMENT OF TURMERIC LEAF OIL LOADED NANOEMULGEL FOR BREAST CANCER TREATMENT

Celesta N*, TN Dr MGR University

Turmeric oil from turmeric leaves which have various applications in food and pharmaceutical industry. Various studies have reported the effect of turmeric leaf oil (TLO) in cancer treatment. To overcome its limitations, instability and hydrophobic nature which affects its biological activity, nanoemulsion technology is used as it is the best way to encapsulate it. The physiochemical characteristics of the turmeric leaf extract demonstrates its functional effects such as anti-cancer, antioxidant, antifungal, skin whitening and antibacterial activities. The objective of the study was to formulate nanoemulgel bearing turmeric leaf oil, to characterize and evaluate its anticancer activity against MCF-7 (human breast cancer) cell line. The cell viability results of TLO nanoemulgel was 28.56 % with IC₅₀ value of 59.84 μg/ml at the end of 24 hours. To our knowledge, the formulation and its anti-cancer activity validation were carried out for the first time. Thus, turmeric leaf oil is rich in valuable phytoconstituents such as α-phellandrene and terpenoids; its nanoemulsion formulation showed efficacy on MCF-7 cell line. Tween 80 may have improved solubilization of the hydrophobic TLO compounds, which enhanced permeability across the cancer cell membranes and facilitated apoptosis. This study provides evidence for the anti-tumor growth properties of TLO-Nanoemulgel with respect to breast cancer. Thus, TLO-Nanoemulgel may effectively inhibit breast cancer cell proliferation.

KEYWORDS: Turmeric leaf oil, anti-cancer activity, MCF-7 cell line.