Formulation of cashew nut shell liquid (CSNL) nanoemulsion, a potent inhibitor of human MCF-7 breast cancer cell proliferation

Abstract

Cashew nut shell liquid (CSNL) nanoemulsion has been formulated and its cytotoxic activity was determined using human breast cancer cells (MCF-7) adopting MTT assay and established staining techniques. MCF-7 cells treated with CSNL nanoemulsion suffered loss of viability and death mostly through apoptosis and/or necrosis as evidenced by the changes in the nuclear morphology and cytoplasmic features. The IC50 value of 48-h treatment groups fall in the range of 88 ± 14.2 ll/ml. In conclusion, the antiproliferative and morphological effects of CSNL nanoemulsion appear to be target-specific killing of cells which gives further lead to study apoptotic pathways as target for breast cancer therapy. This study has provided a scientific basis for the anti-tumor property of CSNL nanoemulsion with respect to breast cancer.