In vitro assessment of the anticancer activity of simvastatin-loaded microemulsion in liver and colon cancer cells

The antitumor activity of simvastatin (SMV), formulated in a microemulsion system that consisted of weight fractions percentages of 24.6 % of Cremophor EL, 12.3 % of Transcutol, 29 % of Captex 355 and 34 % of water, was evaluated in HepG2 liver cancer cells and HCT 116 colon cancer cells. The safe effect of the formula was examined in HFS human foreskin cells. Testing the antitumor activity included the cytotoxicity screening using sulphorhodamine B assay, ApopNexin FITC apoptosis detection kit and light microscopy. It has been found that the microemulsion formulations enhanced the cytotoxicity effect of SMV and induced apoptosis in the cancer cells without affecting the normal cells. This study suggests that microemulsion formulations hold a great potential as drug delivery for SMV that would improve its anticancer effect.