The apoptotic effect of the microemulsion formulation of Simvastatin/ Cremophor el/ Transcutol/ Captex355/Water in a549 non-small cell lung cancer cells

The antiproliferative effect of the lipid lowering agent, simvastatin, has recently grabbed the attention of the pharmaceutical industries. The apoptotic effect of simvastatin, encapsulated in a microemulsion formula composed of Cremophor EL, Transcutol, Captex 355 and water, was assessed in the A549 non-small cell lung cancer cells. The cytotoxicity of and Zocor, blank microemulsion (BM), the freshly prepared microemulsion formula (FDM) and the old FDM (ODM), which was kept for two weeks, were screened using sulphorhodamine B (SRB) assay, ApopNexin FITC apoptosis detection kit and light microscopy. It has been found that FDM and ODM caused cell mortalities more than Zocor by 2.2 and 2.4 folds. The signs of apoptosis, such as chromatid condensation, membrane blebbing and increased intracellular spaces between the cells, were obviously seen in the A549 cells treated with FDM and ODM. Our findings demonstrate that the microemulsion improved the antitumor effect of simvastatin against A549 cells.