Nano-enhanced phytotherapy of prostate cancer: Evaluating the combined efficacy of Telfairia occidentalis Hook.f seed and Annona muricata L. leaf extracts.

Traditional African medicine utilizes Annona muricata leaves and Telfairia occidentalis (fluted pumpkin) seeds for cancer management, though their mechanistic basis and potential enhancement through nanotechnology remain insufficiently characterized. This study evaluated the phytochemical composition, antioxidant capacity, and experimental chemotherapeutic efficacy of T. occidentalis seed and A. muricata leaf extracts, with a focus on the role of chitosan nanoparticle encapsulation in improving biological performance in a rat model of prostate carcinogenesis. Prostate tumors were induced in male Wistar rats using N-methyl-N-nitrosourea (MNU) and testosterone, followed by oral administration of crude or nanoparticle-encapsulated extracts for 21 days. GC-MS, HPLC, and qualitative phytochemical analyses revealed abundant terpenoids, sterols, fatty acids, flavonoids, and alkaloids. Treatment normalized hematological parameters, mitigated oxidative stress (decreased MDA; increased SOD, CAT, and GSH), and reduced tumor burden and prostate-specific antigen (PSA) levels. Nanoparticle formulations produced more pronounced effects, lowering serum PSA from 6.72 ± 0.24 ng/mL in untreated rats to 2.12 ± 0.16 ng/mL (p < 0.05), and suppressing Ki-67 immunoexpression. Histopathological examination showed decreased epithelial hyperplasia and improved glandular preservation in nanoparticle-treated animals relative to crude extracts. These findings corroborate previous reports that phytochemicals from A. muricata and T. occidentalis exhibit antioxidant and antiproliferative properties, while providing new experimental evidence that nanoencapsulation can potentiate these effects. Although further mechanistic and clinical investigations are warranted, the present study highlights the promise of biopolymer-based nanoparticle systems as a means of enhancing the therapeutic potential of African ethnobotanicals in prostate cancer research.