Evaluación del efecto de la microencapsulación sobre la capacidad antitumoral de extractos vegetales de Lepidium meyenii, Bactris gasipaes y Petiveria alliacea

Abstract

Cancer is a life-threatening disease that currently affects the population and is projected to be one of the most serious health problems in the coming years. This is why the study of plant species is important in order to discover new active principles with antitumoral activity. In addition, methods that provide stability against adverse conditions and improve their biological activity are also important. The present project aimed to evaluate the influence of microencapsulation on the antitumoral activity of plant extracts from L. meyenni, B. gasipaes and P. alliacea. The extracts were obtained and microencapsulated, and then evaluated on three tumor lines and one non-tumor line using the MTT proliferation assay and the viability assay with crystal violet. The MTT results showed that the microencapsulated extracts required a higher concentration of total solids compared to the liquids to inhibit 50 percent of cell proliferation. Among the liquid and microencapsulated extracts, B. gasipaes and P. alliacea were the most efficient, respectively. However, considering their influence on normal cells through the therapeutic index, the microencapsulated extract of P. alliacea was more efficient against HT-29 and the liquid extract of L. meyenii was most effective in inhibiting all tumor lines. These results were contrasted with crystal violet and in some cases the same result was obtained, while in others it was demonstrated that certain extracts only inhibited proliferation but did not cause cell death.