Lupeol-Loaded Liposomes: Triple-Negative Breast Cancer (TNBC) Cytotoxicity and In Vivo Toxicological Evaluation

Lupeol is a natural product commonly found in many vegetables and fruits in significant quantities. Previous studies have demonstrated the relevant activity of lupeol against various tumor cell lines, suggesting that the natural product could be a promising agent for cancer treatment. Due to bioavailability requirements, lupeol presents a challenge for internal administration in therapeutic doses. Thus, the development of pharmaceutical formulations, particularly nanostructured systems, could represent an important alternative to improving the bioavailability of the molecule. This study developed and characterized a liposomal formulation loaded with lupeol, exhibiting substantial cytotoxic, cytostatic, and apoptotic profiles against the MDA-MB-231 tumor cells, a triple-negative human breast cancer subtype. Toxicological in vivo evaluations revealed a nonrelevant toxic profile against healthy mice. Considering all the results obtained, the present study revealed important potentialities of the liposomal system, constituting a potential therapeutic alternative against triple-negative breast cancer.