The present study was designed with the aim to enhance the in vitro anticancer activity of alkaloids from Sphaeranthusamaranthoides. The alkaloids isolated from this plant have been known to possess anti-cancer properties. They were further coated with Chitosan to form Chitosan nanoparticles so as to enhance this property as well as for better drug delivery. The anti-cancer activity was tested in A 549 lung cancer cell lines. Chitosan have a capability of targeted drug delivery based on the pH.The alkaloids loading and release characteristics was identified by FTIR, the stability of the nanopartilces were confirmed with pH and Temperature variations. Our findings proved that chitosan nanoparticles have pH responsive release characteristics. The effective internalization and anticancer activity of alkaloids were proved by fluorescent microscopy using dual staining. The PI staining and the FACS analysis showed that there is a concentration dependent increase in the accumulation of the cells in the G0-G1 phase. This observation can affordnew directions in the development of target oriented drug delivery systems in response to the PH to overcome the draw backs of the conventional therapies.
