Bio-functional and anti-cancer (MCF-7) benzyl isothiocyanate nanoemulsions preparation using green pressurized water and process optimization

Benzyl isothiocyanate (BITC), due to high biological activity, especially anti-cancer effect on breast cells has gained more attention in the medicine and pharmaceutical areas. But its low water solubility, environmental instability, and heat sensitivity decrease its applications in aqueous formulation. This study formulated BITC nanoemulsion (BITC NE) using pressurized water (PW) and based on the optimum amounts of BITC (36.5 µL) and Tween 80 (124 µL), to prepare BITC NE with high antioxidant (22.7%), antidiabetic (53.5%) and anti-inflammatory (99.6%) activities. Results indicated that the prepared BITC NE using obtained optimum amounts of its two main component had particle size, polydispersity index and zeta potential values of 180 nm, 0.236 and - 21.32 mV, respectively. Anti-cancer effect of the prepared and optimized BITC NE on breast cancer cell (MCF-7) was also evaluated. Results indicated that as compared to day 3, metabolic activity of MCF-7 cells in the control sample, were increased to 76 and 113% at days 5 and 7 of incubation, respectively. While, BITC NE with its amounts of 10, 50 and 100 µL, decreased that of the cancer cells up to 6.5, 18 and 74.7%, at day 7 of incubation respectively. Results of present study indicated that BITC, due to its dual function, as a natural bioactive compound and anti-cancer agent, is a promising component for further exploration in therapeutic development and functional food research.