Cancer is one of the leading causes of death worldwide. Thus, it is important to find newer, more selective, and more effective therapies for this disease. One of these methods that have attracted many researchers is using anticancer peptides regarding their specificity, lower side effects, and higher effectiveness on the cancer cells. One type of anticancer peptides is antimicrobial peptides. Although they have already been studied and introduced as potential agents to fight infectious diseases, only recently they have been used as a new way of cancer treatment. For decades, antimicrobial peptides have been considered a component of the native immune system; however, they can also be used as anticancer peptides due to their mechanisms and properties. This new therapeutic approach can provide a promising pathway for optimal cancer treatment with fewer side effects.

Background and Aim Among nano-pharmaceutical materials, nanoemulsions are an important tool in the field of nanotechnology. They have been designed for clinical and therapeutic applications. Since the therapeutic efficacy of cancer is measured by the ability of the drug to reduce and eliminate tumors without damaging healthy tissues, nanoemulsions can be useful as a targeted drug carrier. Therefore, we are going to study the antioxidant and anticancer effects of nanoemulsions prepared using dill essential oil.
Methods and Materials Evaluate the antioxidant properties, we used DPPH (1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl) and ABTS (2,2'-azino-bis[3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulphonic acid]) tests. We also applied MTT assay for the evaluation of induced cytotoxicity in liver hepatocellular carcinoma cells and normal human umbilical vein endothelial cells.
Ethical Considerations The Research Ethics Committee of Islamic Azad University (Mashhad Branch) approved this study (Code: IR.IAU.MSHD.REC.1398.027).
Results Nanoemulsions prepared using dill essential oil has a good potential for inhibiting DPPH (IC50=500 μg/mL) and ABTS (IC50=420 μg/mL) radicals. Nanoemulsions also caused a little toxicity to both cell lines. Nanoemulsions reduced cell viability in a dose-dependent manner and the cytotoxicity induced to cancer cells was higher than normal cells. 
Conclusion The present study indicates that nanoemulsions prepared by dill essential oil will have the potential to become a therapeutic strategy for diseases caused by oxidative stress.

Background and Aim: Despite the anti-cancer and antimicrobial properties of licorice extract and lavender essential oil, some factors, such as low bioavailability and biodegradable, limit their therapeutic use. Using nanoparticles is a method to overcome these restrictions. This study aimed to investigate the anti-proliferative effects of nanoemulsion containing licorice extract and lavender essential oil on cancer cells; we also evaluated its antimicrobial properties in vitro.
Methods & Materials: In this experimental study, nanoemulsions, containing licorice extract and lavender essential oil were developed by the spontaneous emulsion method. The anti-proliferative effect of nanoemulsion was investigated using 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyl-2H-tetrazolium bromide (MTT) colorimetric method on two cell lines HepG2 and SK-MEL-3. To measure the antimicrobial effect of 4 standard strains of Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Staphylococcus epidermidis, and Minimum Inhibitory Concentration (MIC) method was used.
Ethical Considerations: This study was approved by the Ethics Committee of Kashan University of Medical Sciences (Code: IR.KAUMS.MEDNT.REC.1396.106). 
Results: The results of MTT test on HepG2 cells indicated that the concentrations of 630, 1250, and 2500 μg/mL nanoemulsions caused toxicity to the cell and led to the death of >50% of the cells (IC50=401μg/mL; P<0.05). Evaluating SK-MEL3 cells revealed that except for 75 μg of nanoemulsion, other concentrations induced death in >50% of the cells (IC50 = 82 μg/mL; P<0.05). In addition, nanoemulsions, with antimicrobial properties, were studied in 4 strains of bacteria; the highest antimicrobial properties were observed in Staphylococcus epidermidis.
Conclusion:  Nanoemulsion containing licorice extract and lavender essential oil presents antimicrobial and antiproliferative effects on the two cell lines studied. The current study results indicated that the nano emulsification of lavender essential oil and licorice extract can enhance their biological impact; thus, they can be used as a drug formulation.