Comparison of anticancer effects of nanocapsules of Nasturtium officinalis (L.) R. Br. extract with methanolic extract and its fractions

Nasturtium officinalis (L.) R. Br. is a prennial and aquatic plant which grows in water flows of most regions of Iran. There are flavonoids in the leaves and flowers of N. officinalis with anticancer properties. In this research, to investigate anticancer effects, leaves and flowers of N. officinalis were used by maceration in methanol for preparation of extract and its fractions. Also, the extract was converted to nanocapsules. The fractions of dichloromethane, diethylether and methanol were prepared from the first extract. Nanocapsules were prepared by double emulsion method using poly-lactic-glycolic acid. Nanocapsules were dried and their dimensions and distribution coefficient were determined. To evaluate the inhibitory effects on the proliferation of breast cancer cells (T47D) and colon cancer cells (HT-29), effects of the first extract, fractions and nanocapsules were compared with Doxorubicin (500 nM) and RPMI as control treatment. Measuring the the average size of nanocapsules showed that the dimentions of 50% of nanocapsules were less than 10 nm and the other were between 50-900 nm. Results of anticancer properties of the extract and fractions of N. officinalis on both breast and colon cancer cells, for 1 to 3 days, showed that dichloromethane fraction had a stronger effect on inhibition of proliferation of cancer cells compared to the first extract and other fractions. In addition, nanocapsules in the same concentration and period of time killed more cells in comparison to the first extract. Meanwhile, the anticancer effect of N. officinalis extract on breast cancer cells was stronger than that on colon cancer cells. Consequently, the possibility of making medicines from this plant extract especially in nanocapsule form could be considered.