Evaluating the anticancer efficacy of Chara vulgaris ethanolic extract and selenium nanoformulation in Ehrlich carcinoma mice: role of autophagy and apoptosis.

Background: Bioactive compounds with a wide range of chemical compositions and biological functions are found in the Chlorophyceae family. The present work investigated the anticancer effect of ethanolic extract from Chara vulgaris (C. vulgaris) and its selenium nanoformulation (CvSeNPs) against solid Ehrlich carcinoma (SEC).

Methods: Gas chromatography-mass spectroscopy was used to analyze C. vulgaris, and many analytical methods were used to characterize the biosynthesized CvSeNPs, including zeta potential, particle size, polydispersity index (PDI), SEM, TEM, and FTIR. In addition, mice with SEC were randomly assigned to seven equal groups (n = 6) to investigate possible mechanisms behind the antitumor activity. Group 1: Tumor control, group 2: Tamoxifen (10 mg/kg), group 3: Free SeNPs, group 4: C. vulgaris (25 mg/kg), group 5: C. vulgaris (50 mg/kg), group 6: 25 mg/kg CvSeNPs, group 7: 50 mg/kg CvSeNPs.

Results: Gas chromatography-mass spectroscopy analysis of the ethanolic extract of C. vulgaris revealed the presence of several bioactive chemicals that may promote anticancer activity. Protein levels of TNF-α, NF-кB, VEGF, and Bcl-2 were suppressed in the CvSeNPs group (50 mg/kg), whereas those of caspase-3, BAX, P53, P62, LC3, and Beclin1 were increased. Additionally, CvSeNPs significantly exceeded similar dosages of free extract in terms of caspase-3, BAX, Bcl-2, P53, TNF-α, NF-кB, VEGF, P62, LC3, and Beclin1 gene expression.

Conclusion: The CvSeNPs mediated their positive anticancer impact, which manifested as a decrease in tumor volume and an improvement in overall survival rate, by promoting autophagy, apoptosis, and lowering inflammation.