Tumor preventive and antioxidant efficacy of chlorogenic acid loaded chitosan nanoparticles in experimental skin carcinogenesis

Abstract Oxidative stress, a pathological condition, contributes to the pathophysiology of a number of diseases including carcinogenesis. Numerous studies pointed out the disturbed antioxidants status and accumulation of oxidative stress markers in the carcinogenesis. The present study analysed the anticancer efficacy of chlorogenic acid loaded chitosan nanoparticles by utilizing the oxidative stress biomarkers as an endpoint in mice with skin cancer developed by 7,12-dimethylbenz(a)anthracene (DMBA). Oxidative stress markers (lipid peroxidation by-products and antioxidants) levels or activities were measured using colorimetric assays. While mice exposed with DMBA alone showed a 100 percent tumour incidence, 0 and 50 percent tumor formation was seen in mice treated with DMBA + topical application of the nanoparticles and DMBA + orally administrated nanoparticles respectively. Also, the study noticed 33 percent and 67 percent tumor incidence was noticed in mice treated with DMBA + topical application of free chlorogenic acid and DMBA + orally administrated free chlorogenic acid respectively. The present study noticed that topical application of chlorogenic acid loaded chitosan nanoparticles to DMBA painted mice completely suppressed the tumour growth and restored the levels or activities of oxidative stress markers as compared to mice received DMBA + oral administration of chlorogenic acid loaded chitosan nanoparticles. The study observed chlorogenic acid loaded chitosan nanoparticles are more potent than free chlorogenic acid in preventing skin cancer in mice caused by DMBA. Thus, the present investigation explores the tumor inhibiting efficacy of chlorogenic acid loaded chitosan nanoparticles in experimental skin cancer and the tumor preventive efficiency could be attributed to their antilipid peroxitative and antioxidants effects.