Synthesis, Characterization and Evaluation of Anticancer Activity of Nanoresveratrol in B16 Melanoma Cell Line

Resveratrol, a member of the stilbene family, is a naturally occurring polyphenolic compound in grapes and other botanicals. It carries a potential to prevent or treat several chronic diseases, including cancers. Despite various promising health benefits, including chemopreventive and chemotherapeutic benefits against cancer, clinical translation of resveratrol is hampered due to its poor bioavailability, solubility and stability. Here we present the study to prepare nano-formulation of resveratrol for improving the resveratrol profile. Calcium phosphate loaded nanoresveratrol has been synthesized, characterized and its anti-proliferative effects were examined in a B16 murine melanoma cell line. The anti-cancer effects of nanoresveratrol were directly compared with free resveratrol and chemotherapy drug 5-FU. Nanoresveratrol induced apoptosis in B16 melanoma more efficiently as compared to resveratrol alone and 5 FU. A nuclear staining profile following Hoechst staining of B16 cells is indicative of apoptosis and shows that the anti-cancer effect of nanoresveratrol is due to apoptosis induction. Since antioxidant activity is a hallmark of resveratrol, we also measured the biochemical antioxidant activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase antioxidant enzymes. We found that, concurrent with the anti-cancer activity, the antioxidant activity of nanoresveratrol increased. Collectively, these findings clearly show that nanoresveratrol is superior to free resveratrol in suppressing cell growth in B16 murine melanoma cell line, and that the anti-cancer activity is primarily through apoptosis induction. Keywords:  Resveratrol, Nanoresveratrol, Formulation, B16 cell line, Cancer, Melanoma, Chemopreventive, Chemotherapeuti