Development, characterisation, stability study and antileukemic evaluation of nanoemulsions containing Astrocaryum aculeatum extract

The objective of this work was to produce and characterise nanoemulsions containing tucuma extract and to evaluate the performance of the nanostructure and the free compound regarding antitumor activity, cytotoxicity, and oxidative metabolism in NB4/APL cells. The nanoemulsions showed adequate physicochemical characteristics (average size approx. 200 nm, polydispersity index less than 0.3, negative zeta potential and acid pH) maintained stable up to 90 days of storage in refrigeration condition. The nanoformulations did not present protein corona formation. Blank nanoemulsion treatments showed moderate toxicity. Furthermore, the nanoemulsion loaded with extract showed better antileukemic results than the free extract. However, nanoemulsions can be promising carriers of natural compounds, emphasising their biological properties and constituting alternatives in treating diseases.