发现副作用最小的有效治疗方法及其完全根除疾病的趋势是癌症治疗史上的主要挑战。胡芦巴 (FGK) 种子富含植物化学物质，尤其是薯蓣皂苷元 (DGN)，具有出色的抗癌活性。在本研究中，合成了含有薯蓣皂苷元的壳聚糖-银纳米粒子（ChAgNPs）（DGN-ChAgNPs），并评估了其对乳腺癌细胞系（MCF-7）的抗癌活性。对于物理表征，DGN-ChAgNPs 的流体动力学直径和 zeta 电位分别确定为 160.4±12nm 和 37.19±5.02mV。透射电子显微镜（TEM）显示纳米颗粒形状大多为圆形，边缘光滑。此外，DGN 被有效地包埋在纳米制剂中，包封率 (EE) 良好，约为 88±4%。 DGN-ChAgNPs 的体外抗增殖活性通过磺基罗丹明 B (SRB) 测定进行，有希望的抑制浓度为 6.902±2.79μg/mL。通过 DAPI 染色、彗星测定和流式细胞术定性和定量验证 DGN-ChAgNP 的抗癌潜力。在不同组的小鼠体内评估存活率和肿瘤重量减少的百分比。顺铂被用作标准抗癌药物。与纯 DGN 治疗组相比，DGN-ChAgNPs (12.5mg/kg) 治疗组显示出更高的存活率百分比和肿瘤重量减轻。这些发现表明 DGN-ChAgNP 可以开发为乳腺癌的潜在治疗疗法。版权所有 © 2023。由 Elsevier B.V. 出版。

The discovery of effective therapeutic approaches with minimum side effects and their tendency to completely eradicate the disease is the main challenge in the history of cancer treatment. Fenugreek (FGK) seeds are a rich source of phytochemicals, especially Diosgenin (DGN), which shows outstanding anticancer activities. In the present study, chitosan-silver nanoparticles (ChAgNPs) containing Diosgenin (DGN-ChAgNPs) were synthesized and evaluated for their anticancer activity against breast cancer cell line (MCF-7). For the physical characterization, the hydrodynamic diameter and zeta potential of DGN-ChAgNPs were determined to be 160.4 ± 12 nm and +37.19 ± 5.02 mV, respectively. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) showed that nanoparticles shape was mostly round with smooth edges. Moreover, DGN was efficiently entrapped in nanoformulation with good entrapment efficacy (EE) of ~88 ± 4 %. The in vitro anti-proliferative activity of DGN-ChAgNPs was performed by sulforhodamine B (SRB) assay with promising inhibitory concentration of 6.902 ± 2.79 μg/mL. DAPI staining, comet assay and flow cytometry were performed to validate the anticancer potential of DGN-ChAgNPs both qualitatively and quantitatively. The percentage of survival rate and tumor reduction weight was evaluated in vivo in different groups of mice. Cisplatin was used as a standard anticancer drug. The DGN-ChAgNPs (12.5 mg/kg) treated group revealed higher percentage of survival rate and tumor reduction weight as compared to pure DGN treated group. These findings suggest that DGN-ChAgNPs could be developed as potential treatment therapy for breast cancer.Copyright © 2023. Published by Elsevier B.V.