Investigation of Antioxidant and Anti-inflammatory Properties of Berberine Nanomicelles: In vitro and In vivo Studies

Marjan Heidarzadeh; Mehriar Amininasab; Seyed Mahdi Rezayat; Seyyedeh Elaheh Mousavi

doi:10.2174/0115672018258030230920035222

Investigation of Antioxidant and Anti-inflammatory Properties of Berberine Nanomicelles: In vitro and In vivo Studies

Curr Drug Deliv. 2023 Oct 6. doi: 10.2174/0115672018258030230920035222. Online ahead of print.

Authors

Marjan Heidarzadeh¹, Mehriar Amininasab², Seyed Mahdi Rezayat^{3

4}, Seyyedeh Elaheh Mousavi^{3

4}

Affiliations

¹ Department of Cell and Molecular Biology, Kish International Campus, University of Tehran, Kish Island, Iran.
² Department of Cell and Molecular Biology, School of Biology, College of Science, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran.
³ Department of Pharmacology, School of Medicine, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
⁴ Experimental Medicine Research Center, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.

PMID: 37815182
DOI: 10.2174/0115672018258030230920035222

Abstract

Introduction: In the present study, neuroprotective effects of berberine (BBR) and berberine nanomicelle (BBR-NM) against lipopolysaccharides (LPS)-induced stress oxidative were investigated, and compared by evaluating their antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities in PC12 cells, and rat brains. A fast, green, and simple synthesis method was used to prepare BBR-NMs.

Method: The prepared BBR-NMs were then characterized using dynamic light scattering (DLS), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). In vitro experiments were carried out on the LPS-treated PC12 cell lines to investigate the anti-cytotoxic and antioxidant properties of BBR-NM and BBR. The results showed that BBR-NMs with a diameter of ~100 nm had higher protective effects against ROS production and cytotoxicity induced by LPS in PC12 cells in comparison with free BBR.

Results: Moreover, in vivo experiments indicated that the activity levels of antioxidant enzymes, such as superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), and glutathione peroxidase (GPx), increased in the brain of LPS-treated rats administrated with BBR-NM at the optimum dose of 100 mg.kg-1 . BBR-NM administration also resulted in decreased concentration of lipid peroxidation (MDA) and pro-inflammatory cytokines, such as Serum interleukin-1 beta (IL-1β) and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α).

Conclusion: Overall, BBR-NM demonstrated higher neuroprotective effects than free BBR, making it a promising treatment for improving many diseases caused by oxidative stress and inflammation.

Keywords: CAT; Cytokine; GPx; ROS; SOD; berberine nanomicelle.