Optimized Icariin Phytosomes Exhibit Enhanced Cytotoxicity and Apoptosis-Inducing Activities in Ovarian Cancer Cells

Icariin (ICA) is a flavonol glycoside that has pleiotropic pharmacological actions. It has cytotoxic effects against ovarian cancer cells and increases their chemosensitivity to chemotherapeutic drugs. Phytosomes are identified for their potential in drug delivery of cytotoxic agents. Thus, the purp...

Full description

Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Nabil A. Alhakamy, Usama A. Fahmy, Shaimaa M. Badr-Eldin, Osama A. A. Ahmed, Hani Z. Asfour, Hibah M. Aldawsari, Mardi M. Algandaby, Basma G. Eid, Ashraf B. Abdel-Naim, Zuhier A. Awan, Nabil K. Alruwaili, Amir I. Mohamed
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2020-04-01
Series:Pharmaceutics
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/1999-4923/12/4/346
_version_ 1797570901874573312
author Nabil A. Alhakamy
Usama A. Fahmy
Shaimaa M. Badr-Eldin
Osama A. A. Ahmed
Hani Z. Asfour
Hibah M. Aldawsari
Mardi M. Algandaby
Basma G. Eid
Ashraf B. Abdel-Naim
Zuhier A. Awan
Nabil K. Alruwaili
Amir I. Mohamed
author_facet Nabil A. Alhakamy
Usama A. Fahmy
Shaimaa M. Badr-Eldin
Osama A. A. Ahmed
Hani Z. Asfour
Hibah M. Aldawsari
Mardi M. Algandaby
Basma G. Eid
Ashraf B. Abdel-Naim
Zuhier A. Awan
Nabil K. Alruwaili
Amir I. Mohamed
author_sort Nabil A. Alhakamy
collection DOAJ
description Icariin (ICA) is a flavonol glycoside that has pleiotropic pharmacological actions. It has cytotoxic effects against ovarian cancer cells and increases their chemosensitivity to chemotherapeutic drugs. Phytosomes are identified for their potential in drug delivery of cytotoxic agents. Thus, the purpose of this study was to determine the potential enhancement of ICA cytotoxicity activity in OVCAR-3 ovarian cancer cells via its formulation in phytosomes. ICA-phytosomal formulation was optimized using a Box–Behnken design. Particle size, shape, and in vitro drug release were used to characterize the optimized formula. The optimized formulation exhibited enhanced in vitro drug release. ICA-phytosomes exhibited enhanced cytotoxicity against ovarian cancer cells. Cell cycle analysis indicated accumulation of cells challenged with ICA-phytosomes in G2/M and pre-G1 phases. Staining of cells with annexin V indicated significant elevation of percentage cells with early and late apoptosis as well as total cell death. In addition, the formulation significantly disturbed mitochondrial membrane potential and cellular content of caspase 3. In addition, intracellular release of reactive oxygen species (ROS) was enhanced by ICA-phytosomes. In conclusion, phytosome formulation of ICA significantly potentiates its cytotoxic activities against OVCAR-3 cells. This is mediated, at least partly, by enhanced ICA cellular permeation, apoptosis, and ROS.
first_indexed 2024-03-10T20:32:00Z
format Article
id doaj.art-804007c971b64a8582a1ca169d96a485
institution Directory Open Access Journal
issn 1999-4923
language English
last_indexed 2024-03-10T20:32:00Z
publishDate 2020-04-01
publisher MDPI AG
record_format Article
series Pharmaceutics
spelling doaj.art-804007c971b64a8582a1ca169d96a4852023-11-19T21:20:49ZengMDPI AGPharmaceutics1999-49232020-04-0112434610.3390/pharmaceutics12040346Optimized Icariin Phytosomes Exhibit Enhanced Cytotoxicity and Apoptosis-Inducing Activities in Ovarian Cancer CellsNabil A. Alhakamy0Usama A. Fahmy1Shaimaa M. Badr-Eldin2Osama A. A. Ahmed3Hani Z. Asfour4Hibah M. Aldawsari5Mardi M. Algandaby6Basma G. Eid7Ashraf B. Abdel-Naim8Zuhier A. Awan9Nabil K. Alruwaili10Amir I. Mohamed11Department of Pharmaceutics, Faculty of Pharmacy, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah 21589, Saudi ArabiaDepartment of Pharmaceutics, Faculty of Pharmacy, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah 21589, Saudi ArabiaDepartment of Pharmaceutics, Faculty of Pharmacy, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah 21589, Saudi ArabiaDepartment of Pharmaceutics, Faculty of Pharmacy, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah 21589, Saudi ArabiaDepartment of Medical Microbiology and Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah 21589, Saudi ArabiaDepartment of Pharmaceutics, Faculty of Pharmacy, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah 21589, Saudi ArabiaDepartment of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Science, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah 21579, Saudi ArabiaDepartment of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Faculty of Pharmacy, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, 21589, Saudi ArabiaDepartment of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Faculty of Pharmacy, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, 21589, Saudi ArabiaDepartment of Clinical Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah 21589, Saudi ArabiaDepartment of Pharmaceutics, Faculty of Pharmacy, Jouf University, Skaka 2014, Saudi ArabiaDepartment of Pharmaceutics and Industrial Pharmacy, Military Medical Academy, Cairo 11757, EgyptIcariin (ICA) is a flavonol glycoside that has pleiotropic pharmacological actions. It has cytotoxic effects against ovarian cancer cells and increases their chemosensitivity to chemotherapeutic drugs. Phytosomes are identified for their potential in drug delivery of cytotoxic agents. Thus, the purpose of this study was to determine the potential enhancement of ICA cytotoxicity activity in OVCAR-3 ovarian cancer cells via its formulation in phytosomes. ICA-phytosomal formulation was optimized using a Box–Behnken design. Particle size, shape, and in vitro drug release were used to characterize the optimized formula. The optimized formulation exhibited enhanced in vitro drug release. ICA-phytosomes exhibited enhanced cytotoxicity against ovarian cancer cells. Cell cycle analysis indicated accumulation of cells challenged with ICA-phytosomes in G2/M and pre-G1 phases. Staining of cells with annexin V indicated significant elevation of percentage cells with early and late apoptosis as well as total cell death. In addition, the formulation significantly disturbed mitochondrial membrane potential and cellular content of caspase 3. In addition, intracellular release of reactive oxygen species (ROS) was enhanced by ICA-phytosomes. In conclusion, phytosome formulation of ICA significantly potentiates its cytotoxic activities against OVCAR-3 cells. This is mediated, at least partly, by enhanced ICA cellular permeation, apoptosis, and ROS.https://www.mdpi.com/1999-4923/12/4/346apoptosiscaspaseicariinphytosomesreactive oxygen species
spellingShingle Nabil A. Alhakamy
Usama A. Fahmy
Shaimaa M. Badr-Eldin
Osama A. A. Ahmed
Hani Z. Asfour
Hibah M. Aldawsari
Mardi M. Algandaby
Basma G. Eid
Ashraf B. Abdel-Naim
Zuhier A. Awan
Nabil K. Alruwaili
Amir I. Mohamed
Optimized Icariin Phytosomes Exhibit Enhanced Cytotoxicity and Apoptosis-Inducing Activities in Ovarian Cancer Cells
Pharmaceutics
apoptosis
caspase
icariin
phytosomes
reactive oxygen species
title Optimized Icariin Phytosomes Exhibit Enhanced Cytotoxicity and Apoptosis-Inducing Activities in Ovarian Cancer Cells
title_full Optimized Icariin Phytosomes Exhibit Enhanced Cytotoxicity and Apoptosis-Inducing Activities in Ovarian Cancer Cells
title_fullStr Optimized Icariin Phytosomes Exhibit Enhanced Cytotoxicity and Apoptosis-Inducing Activities in Ovarian Cancer Cells
title_full_unstemmed Optimized Icariin Phytosomes Exhibit Enhanced Cytotoxicity and Apoptosis-Inducing Activities in Ovarian Cancer Cells
title_short Optimized Icariin Phytosomes Exhibit Enhanced Cytotoxicity and Apoptosis-Inducing Activities in Ovarian Cancer Cells
title_sort optimized icariin phytosomes exhibit enhanced cytotoxicity and apoptosis inducing activities in ovarian cancer cells
topic apoptosis
caspase
icariin
phytosomes
reactive oxygen species
url https://www.mdpi.com/1999-4923/12/4/346
work_keys_str_mv AT nabilaalhakamy optimizedicariinphytosomesexhibitenhancedcytotoxicityandapoptosisinducingactivitiesinovariancancercells
AT usamaafahmy optimizedicariinphytosomesexhibitenhancedcytotoxicityandapoptosisinducingactivitiesinovariancancercells
AT shaimaambadreldin optimizedicariinphytosomesexhibitenhancedcytotoxicityandapoptosisinducingactivitiesinovariancancercells
AT osamaaaahmed optimizedicariinphytosomesexhibitenhancedcytotoxicityandapoptosisinducingactivitiesinovariancancercells
AT hanizasfour optimizedicariinphytosomesexhibitenhancedcytotoxicityandapoptosisinducingactivitiesinovariancancercells
AT hibahmaldawsari optimizedicariinphytosomesexhibitenhancedcytotoxicityandapoptosisinducingactivitiesinovariancancercells
AT mardimalgandaby optimizedicariinphytosomesexhibitenhancedcytotoxicityandapoptosisinducingactivitiesinovariancancercells
AT basmageid optimizedicariinphytosomesexhibitenhancedcytotoxicityandapoptosisinducingactivitiesinovariancancercells
AT ashrafbabdelnaim optimizedicariinphytosomesexhibitenhancedcytotoxicityandapoptosisinducingactivitiesinovariancancercells
AT zuhieraawan optimizedicariinphytosomesexhibitenhancedcytotoxicityandapoptosisinducingactivitiesinovariancancercells
AT nabilkalruwaili optimizedicariinphytosomesexhibitenhancedcytotoxicityandapoptosisinducingactivitiesinovariancancercells
AT amirimohamed optimizedicariinphytosomesexhibitenhancedcytotoxicityandapoptosisinducingactivitiesinovariancancercells