Fagonia indica extract encapsulated in PLGA nanocarriers demonstrated enhanced therapeutic efficacy through improved intracellular uptake of photoactive metabolites.

Fagonia indica (FI), a member of the Zygophyllaceae family, is known for its medicinally important components, such as glycosides, saponins, flavonoids, phenols, and alkaloids. The complex mixture of phytochemicals in the extract limits its aqueous solubility and bioavailability, resulting in low therapeutic outcomes. We aim to enhance the bioavailability of FI extract by encapsulating it into Poly (lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA) nanoparticles (FI-PLGA NPs) and evaluate its cytotoxicity and phototoxicity against the BT-474 cell line. FI-PLGA NPs were prepared via a single emulsion solvent evaporation method. The optical properties, structural analysis, and hydrodynamic size of the synthesized NPs were characterised by UV-Visible spectroscopy, fluorescence spectroscopy, Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectrometry, X-ray diffraction (XRD) spectroscopy, and Dynamic light scattering (DLS). The measured particle size and zeta potential of FI-PLGA NPs were 217 nm and -30.5 mV, respectively. The in-vitro cytotoxicity and phototoxicity of FI extract and FI-PLGA NPs were measured using MTT assay. Results suggest that decreased cell viability is associated with higher intracellular concentration and fast drug internalisation when loaded on a nanocarrier compared to free extract. Moreover, a significant reduction in cell viability was observed after irradiation of light doses of 6 J/cm2 and 12 J/cm2. FI-PLGA NPs showed a higher cytotoxic effect against the BT-474 cell line than free FI extract, possibly due to prolonged and sustained drug release and faster cellular internalization of FI-PLGA NPs. Using a PLGA nanocarrier significantly improved the intracellular uptake of photoactive metabolites from the extract of Fagonia indica, enhancing the plant's therapeutic efficacy. The in-vivo anti-cancer potential of FI- PLGA NPs needs to be investigated to validate the effectiveness of these nano-formulations and open the door for their potential application in clinical settings.