Cytotoxicity and antiproliferative activity of ethanol and ethyl acetate fractions from polymeric nanoparticles of green tea leaves (Camellia sinensis) in breast cancer cell line MDA-MB-132

Green tea (Camellia sinensis) has benefits. Its main potential content is epigallocatechin gallate, which has many bioactivity and pharmacological properties. However, herbal medicines have limitations on low solubility and stability. A nanoparticle delivery system is a perfect form of active ingredient development, because it can mediate the increase in solubility, dissolution rate, and strength of a targeted delivery system. This study aimed to make and test the formulation of the ethanol and ethyl acetate fraction from green tea leaves in the form of a nanoparticle delivery system using chitosan biopolymer as the primary carrier polymer combined with sodium tripolyphosphate as a crosslinker and then carried out the tests on the MDA-MB-231 breast cancer cell line. The results showed that the particle size value was 199.7 nm, the zeta potential was-56.7 mV, and the polydispersity index was 0.337. X-ray diffraction and differential scanning calorimetry test results showed that the C. sinensis fraction was perfectly dispersed molecularly in the nanoparticle system. The results of the cytotoxic test on the MDA-MB-231 breast cancer cell line obtained IC50 values for both fractions, namely 10.70 μg/mL (nano ethanol fraction) and 12.72 μg/mL (nano ethyl acetate fraction). This result showed a significant increase in anticancer activity in both fractions compared to those not formulated (P < 0.05). These results also show that the C. sinensis tea fraction formulated in a nanoparticle delivery system has a great potential as a new therapeutic agent for breast cancer.