Fabrication and Physicochemical Characterization of Liposome System Containing Glycyrrhiza Glabra Hydroalcoholic Extract and Evaluation Of Toxicity of Free and Liposomal Extract On Healthy Human Fibroblast Cell Line (HFF) and MCF-7 Breast Cancer Cell Line

Abstract

Introduction: The use of plants to treat diseases has a long history. Today, due to the side effects of common drugs, turning to these natural resources is more mandatory than before. This study aimed to construct and characterize nanoliposomes containing Glycyrrhiza glabra extract and to evaluate its toxicity on healthy HFF cell lines and MCF-7 breast cancer cell lines.

Methods: Initially, licorice extract was obtained using a succulent extraction method. Subsequently, a liposomal system was prepared from SPC and cholesterol using the thin film method, and Glycyrrhiza glabra extract was loaded into the liposomes. Their physicochemical parameters were investigated using zeta-sizer and SEM devices, and the release pattern of the extract was calculated at 37^ºC and 42 ^ºC. Finally, the toxicity of this nanosystem containing the extract on the MCF-7 breast cancer cell line and HFF skin was investigated by the MTT method.

Results: Encapsulation, particle size, polydispersity index, and zeta potential are 64.16±3.45%, 131 nm, 0.131, and -19.1 mV, respectively. Release of the extract was slow at similar temperatures to healthy and cancer cells. Also, liposome extract was more toxic to the MCF-7 cell line than free extract, and both were less toxic to the HFF cell line.

Conclusion: The findings showed that the liposomal system incorporating the extract had advantageous physical and chemical characteristics. It also displayed high toxicity on the MCF-7 cell line but low toxicity on the HFF cell line. This indicates that the liposomal system may be a promising method for delivering plant compounds to specific cells.