INTEGRATING PHYTOCHEMISTRY WITH ONCOLOGY: THE ROLE OF ALOE VERA NANOPARTICLES IN COMBATING ORAL CANCER TUMOR GROWTH: IN VIVO RAT MODELS

Abstract

Background: Oral cancer, a major public health challenge, often exhibits poor prognosis due to resistance to conventional therapies. Integrating plant-derived nanotherapeutics, such as Aloe vera nanoparticles (AVNPs), offers a promising alternative approach. Aloe vera possesses anti-inflammatory, pro-apoptotic, and anti-tumor properties, which can be enhanced through nanoparticle synthesis. This study explores the anti-cancer potential of AVNPs in reducing oral cancer tumor growth using in vivo models.

Objective: To investigate the therapeutic efficacy of Aloe vera nanoparticles in reducing tumor growth and inducing apoptosis in a chemically induced oral cancer rat model.

Methods: Aloe vera gel was processed under aseptic conditions, freeze-dried, and synthesized into nanoparticles using a green synthesis approach. Characterization of AVNPs was performed using Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) and Dynamic Light Scattering (DLS). Oral cancer was induced in Sprague-Dawley rats through 4-nitroquinoline 1-oxide (4NQO) in drinking water (20 ppm) over eight weeks. Rats were divided into four groups: control, cancer control, low-dose AVNPs (20 mg/kg), and high-dose AVNPs (40 mg/kg). Tumor growth inhibition was evaluated macroscopically and histopathologically. Cellular viability was assessed using the MTT assay, and gene expression levels of Caspase-3 and Caspase-9 were analyzed through quantitative PCR.

Results: AVNPs exhibited an IC50 of 13.1 µM in the MTT assay. Tumor volume decreased significantly in the treated groups compared to the cancer control group. Relative gene expression showed upregulation of pro-apoptotic markers, with Caspase-3 at 12.3 and Caspase-9 at 14.8. These results confirm enhanced apoptosis and tumor suppression by AVNPs.

Conclusion: Aloe vera nanoparticles demonstrated significant anti-cancer potential by inducing apoptosis and reducing tumor growth in oral cancer models. Their efficacy as natural chemotherapeutics warrants further clinical research for potential therapeutic applications.