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Diosgenin-loaded niosome as an effective phytochemical nanocarrier: physicochemical characterization, loading efficiency, and cytotoxicity assay

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Abstract

Background

The use of phytochemicals to prevent or suppress tumours is known as chemoprevention. Numerous plant-derived agents have been reported to have anticancer potentials. As one such anticancer phytochemical, diosgenin has several applications which are nevertheless limited due to its low solubility in water.

Methods

We loaded diosgenin into niosome to increase its solubility and hence efficiency. Diosgenin-niosome (diosgenin loaded into niosome) was prepared by thin-film hydration method and characterised by optical microscopy, dynamic light scattering (DLS), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and UV-visible spectrophotometry. Also, loading efficiency, in vitro drug release, and cytotoxicity assay were performed on HepG2 cell line.

Results and discussion

Diosgenin-niosome has a nanometric size with a normal size distribution and spherical morphology. The loading efficiency of diosgenin was about 89% with a sustainable and controllable release rate. Finally, the viability of free diosgenin was 61.25%, and after loading into niosomes, it was improved to 28.32%.

Conclusion

The results demonstrated that niosomes increase the solubility of naturally derived hydrophobic chemicals and thus enhance their anticancer effect.

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Acknowledgments

The authors are grateful to the Graduate University of Advanced Technology, Kerman, Iran and Rafsanjan University of Medical Sciences, Rafsanjan, Iran for their excellent technical and financial support.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Clinical Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine, Rafsanjan University of Medical Sciences, Rafsanjan, Iran

    Mohammad Reza Hajizadeh, Najmeh Parvaz & Alireza Khoshdel

  2. Molecular Medicine Research Center, Rafsanjan University of Medical Sciences, Rafsanjan, Iran

    Mohammad Reza Hajizadeh, Najmeh Parvaz & Alireza Khoshdel

  3. Department of Chemistry, Shahid Bahonar University of Kerman, Kerman, Iran

    Mahmood Barani

  4. Research Center of Advanced Technologies in Medicine, Torbat Heydariyeh University of Medical Sciences, Torbat Heydariyeh, Iran

    Mohammad Ali Fahmidehkar

  5. Department of Clinical Biochemistry, Afzalipoor Faculty of Medicine, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran

    Mehdi Mahmoodi

  6. Department of Biotechnology, Institute of Science, High Technology and Environmental Sciences, Graduate University of Advanced Technology, Kerman, Iran

    Masoud Torkzadeh-Mahani

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  1. Mohammad Reza Hajizadeh
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Correspondence to Masoud Torkzadeh-Mahani.

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Hajizadeh, M.R., Parvaz, N., Barani, M. et al. Diosgenin-loaded niosome as an effective phytochemical nanocarrier: physicochemical characterization, loading efficiency, and cytotoxicity assay. DARU J Pharm Sci 27, 329–339 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40199-019-00277-0

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