Capsaicin Encapsulated Chitosan Nanoparticles Augments Anticarcinogenic and Antiproliferative Competency Against 7,12 Dimethylbenz(a)anthracene Induced Experimental Rat Mammary Carcinogenesis

Background: Capsaicin is a powerful phytochemical spotted in chilies, starkly tied up with a bunch of health benefits but its clinical applications in cancer therapy are limited due to its poor solubility, and low bioavailability. Nanotechnology offers a strategy to discover new formulations for hydrophobic agent.

Aim: The main intent of the current research was to investigate the effect of Capsaicin encapsulated chitosan nanoparticles (CAP@CS-NP) on 7,12-Dimethylbenz(a)anthracene (DMBA) induced mammary carcinogenesis in rats.

Methodology: Mammary tumor was induced in female rats by injecting DMBA (25mg/kg b.wt) at the first week of the experiment. After 7 weeks, CAP@CS-NP (4mg/kg b.wt) was administered orally to DMBA induced tumor bearing rats for 21 days (thrice per week). The experiment was terminated at the end of the 14th week and their plasma and tissue sections were analyzed.

Results: We found that significantly elevated levels of lipid peroxidation and diminished levels of antioxidant status in plasma, liver and mammary tissues. Increased levels of detoxification phase I enzymes and dropped levels of phase II enzymes in liver and mammary tissues in DMBA induced tumor bearing rats. As a result, oral administration of CAP@CS-NP suppressed the tumor growth, significantly raised body weight and restored abnormal enzymatic levels to near normal ranges. Additionally, histopathological and immunohistochemical analysis were also confirmed that CAP@CS-NP protects DMBA mediated cellular disruption and also inhibits abnormal cell proliferation.

Conclusion: These findings suggest that nano encapsulation of CAP@CS-NP could be useful in targeted drug delivery and act as a promising chemotherapeutic agent to treat mammary carcinogenesis.