Abstract
Sorafenib (SRF), an inhibitor of tyrosine kinase used to treat different kinds of cancers, found to have hepatotoxicity effects. The current study aims to fabricate the flaxseed oil in a nanoemulsion containing SRF (SRF-NE) and to evaluate its anticancer activity in vivo. The droplet sizes and charges of SRF-NE were determined by the zetasizer Nano ZS. Five groups (n = 20) of female Swiss Albino mice were used for antitumor activity assessment. Groups I & II served as the untreated mice and mice inoculated with Ehrlich ascietes carcinoma cells (EAC+), respectively. Groups III-V were EAC-bearing mice administered day-by-day via oral gavage with 7 doses of free-NE, 30 mg SRF/kg of mice weight, solubilized in 1: 1 ratio of Cremophor and 95% Ethyl Alcohol (SRF-Cremo), and SRF-NE, respectively. The side effect of the subjected formulas on the liver was assessed by determining the relative liver weight, serum biochemical parameters, reactive oxygen species and implementing the histological examination. The z-average diameter and zeta potential of SRF-NE were 77.46 +/- 8.28 nm and -3.4 +/- 1.2 mV, respectively. Among all of the treated groups, SRF-NE group has the least tumor volume with increased activity of the lactate dehydrogenase and the greatest survival (28 +/- 2.54 days). Compared to SRF-Cremo, SRF-NE, subjected into the mice, has amended the relative liver weight, decreased the level of alanine aminotransferase and raised the activity of the catalase. In conclusion, encapsulating SRF in a NE formulated with flaxseed oil has improved its antitumor activity and reduced its hepatotoxicity.