Enhanced anti-cancer activity of chitosan loaded Morinda citrifolia essential oil against A549 human lung cancer cells

In the present study, the chemical composition of Morinda citrifolia essential oils was determined by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry and was found to contain several anti-cancer compounds including L-scopoletin, nordamnacanthal, β-morindone, α-copaene, 9-H-pyrido[3,4-b]indole, β-thujene and terpinolene. The physico-chemical characterization of chitosan, chitosan nanoparticles and Morinda citrifolia essential oils loaded chitosan nanoparticles combination was carried out by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, powder X-ray diffraction and dynamic light scattering coupled with zeta potential. The morphological observation obtained by scanning electron microscopy and transmission electron microscopy provided clear indication that the immobile chitosan polymer formed a coating onto the Morinda citrifolia essential oils surface. The cytotoxic effect of Morinda citrifolia essential oils loaded chitosan nanoparticles against A549 cells were investigated, resulting in 54% inhibition at 40 μg/ml^-1. Information about in vitro morphological modification, nucleus damages, ROS generation and cell cycle arrest was obtained by fluorescence microscopy and flow cytometer analysis. The toxicity evaluation against human red blood cells suggested that the Morinda citrifolia essential oils loaded chitosan nanoparticles possess minimum cytotoxicity. Altogether, the present study suggests that these Morinda citrifolia essential oils loaded chitosan nanoparticles are valuable biomaterials owing to their ability to fight against A549 cancer cells.

Keywords: Cell cycle arrest; Chitosan; Cytotoxicity; Human lung cancer cells; Mitochondrial damage; Morinda citrifolia essential oils.