Cytotoxicity induction by ethanolic extract of Acalypha indica loaded casein-chitosan microparticles in human prostate cancer cell line in vitro

The present exploration reports an extensive evaluation of in vitro anticancer efficacy of a novel aqueous ethanolic extract of Acalypha indica (ETAI) loaded chitosan-casein (CS-CT) microparticles in a cancer cell line model. Spherically shaped ETAI loaded CS-CT (CS/CT/ETAI) microparticles were prepared by colloidal coacervation technique in a completely aqueous environment with an entrapment efficiency and particle size of 85.30 ± 4.10 and 2 ± 0.96 μm respectively. Cytotoxicity, as investigated on human prostate cancer cell line (PC3) by MTT assay, revealed insignificant differences between free ETAI and CS/CT/ETAI microparticles treated cells in the first 24 h, while higher cytotoxicity was demonstrated by CS/CT/ETAI microparticles, following 72 h of incubation. Percentage of cytotoxicity also demonstrated by LDH assay, which shown the concentration dependent leakage of LDH from PC3 cells exposed to free ETAI and CS/CT/ETAI microparticles The use of significantly low concentration of Acalypha indica loaded with CS/CT is a much better approach in comparison to the use of free ETAI for cancer treatment in future.