Vegetos
(An International Journal of Plant Research & Biotechnology)
Characterization of Camellia chrysantha nano-formulated powder and its cytotoxic activity
*Article not assigned to an issue yet
Hoang Le M., Nguyen Hoa T., Nguyen Phi H., Anh Khuc D. D., Khanh Nguyen C. N., Hoa Truong T. T., Huy Tran Q., To Dao Cuong, Nguyen Hoa T., Nguyen Phi H.
Short Communications | Published: 18 July, 2025
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Keywords: n Camellia chrysanthan , n C. chrysanthan , Nano-formulated powder (CNFP), Laser diffraction spectroscopy (LDS), Scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), Transmission electron microscopy (TEM), cytotoxic
Abstract
The Golden Camellia, scientifically known as Camellia chrysantha (Hu) Tuyama (Theaceae), is an evergreen shrub native to Southeast and East Asia, known for its diverse health benefits. The ethanolic extract of C. chrysantha leaves, obtained via reflux extraction using 10 L of ethanol, contains various bioactive compounds with potential medical applications. However, its poor water solubility limits its therapeutic application. This study aimed to enhance the bioavailability and cytotoxic efficacy of the extract by synthesizing a nano-formulated powder (CNFP) using a top-down approach. Laser diffraction spectroscopy (LDS) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) revealed CNFP with a mean particle size of 134 ± 14 nm and a polydispersity index (PdI) of 0.285. Otherwise, X-ray diffraction (XRD) showed that CNFP has an amorphous structure (XRD peak at 2θ ≈ 21°), porous morphology (transmission electron microscopy, TEM), and good colloidal stability (zeta potential 38.5 mV). The cytotoxicity of CNFP was evaluated against four human cancer cell lines—MCF-7 (breast cancer), HepG2 (hepatocellular carcinoma), HL60 (human leukemia), and A549 (lung cancer)—using the 3-[4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl]-2,5-diphenyl tetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay. CNFP showed stronger cytotoxic activities than C. chrysantha extract (p < 0.05), specifically with IC50 values of 194.12 ± 8.02, 332.07 ± 10.14, 223.83 ± 12.80, and 372.94 ± 18.25 µg/mL, respectively. The enhanced cytotoxicity is attributed to the improved aqueous dispersibility and cellular uptake of the nano-formulated particles. While these results indicate promising in vitro anticancer potential, further in vivo studies are required to validate the efficacy and safety of CNFP for clinical applications.
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Author Information
Phenikaa University Nano Institute (PHENA), Phenikaa University, Hanoi, Vietnam