Objective:

2

To entrap carvacrol (CAR) in bovine serum albumin nanoparticles (BSANPs) to form CAR-loaded BSANPs (CAR@BSANPs) and to explore the anti-cancer effects in breast adenocarcinoma cells (MCF-7 cells) treated with CAR and CAR@BSANPs.

Methods:

2

A desolvation method was used to synthesize BSANPs and CAR@BSANPs. The BSANPs and CAR@BSANPs were characterized by several physicochemical methods

including visual observation

high-resolution field emission scanning electron microscopy

Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy

and high-performance liquid chromatography. MCF-7 cells were used and analyzed after 24 h of exposure to CAR and CAR@BSANPs at half-maximal inhibitory concentration. The anti-proliferative

apoptotic

reactive oxygen species (ROS)

and nitric oxide (NO) scavenging activity as well as gene expression analysis were investigated by the cell viability assay

phase-contrast microscopy

2'

7'-dichlorofluorescein-diacetate assay

Griess-Illosvoy colorimetric assay

and quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction

respectively.

Results:

2

CAR and CAR@BSANPs showed anti-proliferative

apoptotic

ROS generation

and NO scavenging effects on MCF-7 cells. Expression profile of B-cell lymphoma 2-like 11 (

BCL2L11

)

vascular endothelial growth factor A (

VEGFA

)

hypoxia inducible factor factor-1α (

HIF1A

)

BCL2L11

/apoptosis regulator (

BAX

)

and

BCL2L11

/Bcl2 homologous antagonist/killer 1 (

BAK1

) ratios revealed downregulated genes; and

BAX

BAK1

and

CASP8

were upregulated by CAR and CAR@BSANPs treatment.

In vitro

anticancer assays of the CAR and CAR@BSANPs showed that CAR@BSANPs demonstrated higher therapeutic efficacy in the MCF-7 cells than CAR.

Conclusions:

2

CAR and CAR@BSANPs affect gene expression and may subsequently reduce the growth and proliferation of the MCF-7 cells. Molecular targeting of regulatory genes of the MCF-7 cells with CAR and CAR@BSANPs may be an effective therapeutic strategy against breast cancer.