Role of Rubia tinctorum in the synthesis of zinc oxide nanoparticles and apoptosis induction in breast cancer cell line

Nowadays, nanotechnology has offered great success in resolving concerns in cancer therapy and created a new interdisciplinary field of study incorporating various sciences, such as biology, chemistry and medicine. Apoptosis is a conserved and controlled strategy in regulating cellular growth and proliferation, as well as preserving development and general homeostasis of the body. Zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO-NPs) are the most important and widely used nanoparticles. This study aimed to evaluate the apoptosis-inducing properties of the synthesized ZnO-NPs by aqueous extract of Rubia tinctorum against the MCF7 breast cancer cell line.

Zinc oxide nanoparticles were synthesized using rubia tinctorum extract and characterized by some methods including dynamic light scattering (DLS), field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM) and x-ray diffraction analysis (XRD). Apoptosis was measured by the Hoechst and Acridine-Orange/Propodium Iodide staining, as well as flow cytometry.

The results of this study showed that the particle size of biosynthesized ZnO-NPs using R.tinctorum extract was about 40 nm and had a spherical morphology. The obtain results of the Hoechst and Acridine-Orange/Propodium Iodide staining, as well as flow cytometry showed that biosynthesized ZnO-NPs effectively and dose-dependently induced apoptosis in the MCF7 breast cancer cells.

Therefore, the biosynthesized ZnO-NPs by watery extract of R. tinctorum can be used in the treatment of many diseases, including cancers.