Green synthesis of chicory (Cichorium intybus L.) Chitosan nanoparticles and evaluation of their anti-fungal, anti-hemolytic, and anti-cancer activities

Chicory ( Cichorium intybus L.) is widely consumed as a food plant in many regions of the world and has been involved in traditional medicine due to its unique contents of phytochemicals. We aimed to investigate the anti-fungal, anti-hemolytic, and anti-cancer activities of chicory roots and leaves ethanolic extracts, and their Chitosan nanoparticles (Chit NPs) formulations. The ethanolic extract of chicory roots and leaves were microencapsulated into Chit NPs. The anti-hemolytic, anti-fungal, and anti-cancer activity of chicory extracts and their Chit-NPs were investigated, along with an in vitro toxicological study. Chicory extracts encapsulation into Chit NPs increased their anti-fungal activity against two fungal pathogens, Candida albicans and Aspergillus flavus. Chicory extracts and their Chit NPs appeared strong anti-hemolytic activity in hypotonic media. Due to microencapsulation of roots and leaves extracts into Chit NPs, the IC ₅₀ was decreased 2.49 and 2.6-folds in HepG2 and MCF-7 cell lines, and 6.31 and 5.50-folds in HepG2 and MCF-7 cell lines, respectively. The in vitro toxicological study revealed that the IC ₅₀ of chicory roots (56.84 ± 6.4 μg/ml) and leaves (45.51 ± 4.2 μg/ml) decreased 8.45 and 6.77-folds in the normal human fibroblasts (WI38) cell line, compared to Doxorubicin (6.72 ± 0.5 μg/ml). Microencapsulation of extracts into Chit NPs increased their toxicity 2.43-folds for Chit-Roots NPs (IC ₅₀ = 23.35 ± 2.3 μg/ml) and 1.22-fold for Chit-Leaves NPs (IC ₅₀ = 37.29 ± 2.9 μg/ml). Chicory-Chit NPs possess promising anti-cancer and anti-hemolytic activities. It is worth for further testing their efficacy and toxicity in pre-clinical animal models as well as clinical trials.