Synthesis of ursolic acid nanoparticles

A method of inhibiting propagation of cancer cells, comprising the steps of:

• determining that the cancer cells are from the group consisting of MCF-7 (Breast carcinoma) cells, HepG-2 (Hepatocellular carcinoma) cells, HCT-116 (Colon carcinoma) cells, A549 (Lung cancer) cells, and Hela (cervical cancer) cells;
• and
• administering an effective amount of ursolic acid nanoparticles into contact with the cancer cells, wherein the ursolic acid nanoparticles are made by the method comprising the steps of:
• (a) dissolving ursolic acid powder in methanol, wherein the ursolic acid powder is from the aerial parts of Nuxia oppositifolia;
• (b) boiling water for five minutes;
• (c) adding the ursolic acid dissolved in methanol dropwise at a flow rate of 0.1-0.3 ml/min to the boiled water dropwise under ultrasonic conditions to produce an aqueous ursolic acid solution;
• (d) sonicating the ursolic acid of step (c) for 20 minutes;
• (e) stirring the sonicated solution of step (d) for about 15 minutes;
• and
• (f) drying the solution of step (e) to obtain the ursolic acid nanoparticles, wherein the dried ursolic acid nanoparticles have a particle size between 10 nm and 100 nm.