Effects of Apigenin and Apigenin-Loaded Nanogel on Induction of Apoptosis in Human Chronic Myeloid Leukemia Cells

Background: Diet plays an important role in cancer prevention. Apigenin, a flavonoid with the chemical formula C15H10O5, is abundantly present in vegetables. Vegetarian foods containing flavonoids are rich sources of bioactive compounds. Flavonoids have been utilized in herbal treatment. Nanogels are drug delivery systems based on polymers and are used in tissue engineering and for drug delivery. This study was conducted to compare the effects of apigenin and a nanodrug on the viability of the K562 cell line of chronic myeloid leukemia at different durations under laboratory conditions. Materials and Methods: Chitosan was first dissolved in 1% acetic acid, and ethylene dichloride EDC and NHS were added to the solution. Then, the nanodrug was prepared by loading apigenin into stearate-chitosan nanogel (scs nanogel), and its physical and morphological characteristics were evaluated by TEM, DLS, and FTIR. Trypan blue staining, MTT assay, and flow cytometry were used to analyze the effects of various concentrations of apigenin and apigenin-loaded chitosan-stearate nanogel (APG-SCS) at 24, 48, and 72 h after they were applied to the K562 cell line. Results: The diameter of the nanodrug particles was measured using DLS and confirmed by TEM. The K562 cells treated with APG-SCS and with apigenin exhibited significant differences compared with the control (P < 0.05). Apoptosis was detected by flow cytometry. Conclusion: This study showed that the toxic effects of apigenin and the nanodrug improved with increasing concentrations and exposure durations compared to those in the control. The toxic effect of apigenin loaded into the stearate-chitosan nanogel was greater than apigenin, and the toxic effects of both materials were greater compared to the control under laboratory conditions. .