Exploring Anticancer Potential of Leucas Aspera Mediated Magnetic Iron Oxide Nanoparticles.

Iron oxide nanoparticles have gained considerable interest for their potential use in cancer treatment. Our current study, investigates the anti-cancer potential of green-synthesized Leucas aspera nanoparticles against Triple-negative breast cancer, that, belongs to a diverse group of breast cancers and known for its aggressiveness. Research studies on Leucas aspera commonly called as Thumbai, is a source of therapeutically active compounds and have plenty of pharmacological effects. In our study, we have characterized the phytocompounds of leaf extract of Leucas aspera using GC-MS and then, were docked with proteins engaged with apoptosis of breast cancer, such as, BAX, MCL-1 and BCL-2. The extract of L. aspera was phytochemically screened and it demonstrated the existence of bioactive compounds like flavonoids, alkaloids, reducing sugars, saponins, tannins, triterpenoids, glycosides and phenols. The green-synthesis of L. aspera mediated iron oxide nanoparticles (LANPs) was confirmed through characterization, using Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy, Ultraviolet-Visible spectroscopy, Dynamic Light Scattering, Zeta potential, Field Emission Scanning Electron Microscopy and Energy Dispersive X-ray Analysis. In vitro assays, using LANPs showed promising antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities of 25% and 61% respectively at 100 µg/ml concentration. Furthermore, this study also proved the anti-cancer efficacy of magnetic LANPs against MDA-MB-231 cell lines with a IC50 value of 225.817 µg/ml. The zebra fish toxicity assay, revealed that, the majority of the embryos remained viable without deformations, after exposure to LANPs, indicating their non-toxic nature to normal cells. On further validation of LANPs through appropriate in vivo studies, it can act as an effective targeted therapy against Triple-Negative breast cancer.