Nano-encapsulated Senecio glaucus L. essential oil with potent antioxidant, anticancer, and wound-healing properties

Abstract

Senecio glaucus L. essential oil (EO), rich in mono- and sesquiterpenes, demonstrates multiple bioactivities; however, it suffers from volatility and poor water solubility. This study developed a nano-encapsulation of EO to improve its stability and bioactivity. GC-MS analysis mainly identified terpene derivatives, with dehydrofukinone being the dominant compound (29.9%). Physical characterization confirmed the nano-sized structure of the essential oil-loaded nanoparticles (EO-NPs). Antioxidant assays (DPPH and ABTS) showed enhanced radical scavenging activity of EO-NPs with 14.07 ± 1.6 and 7.29 ± 1.33 µg mL⁻¹ IC₅₀ values, respectively. The MTT assay demonstrated notable in vitro anticancer effects of EO-NPs against PC3 prostate cancer (IC₅₀ = 64.71 ± 2.91 µg mL⁻¹) and HCT-116 colorectal cancer cells (IC₅₀ = 74.59 ± 2.3 µg mL⁻¹). At the molecular level, EO-NPs upregulated pro-apoptotic genes and proteins and downregulated anti-apoptotic Bcl-2. Additionally, EO-NPs exhibited promising wound healing activity in the migration scratch assay on BJ-1 fibroblast cells. These outcomes highlight the potential of EO-NPs as a therapeutic candidate with enhanced in vitro biological activity, warranting further investigation.