Chronic administration of cryptolepine nanoparticle formulation alleviates seizures in a neurocysticercosis model

Priscilla Kolibea Mante; Nana Ofori Adomako; Paulina Antwi; Nana Kofi Kusi-Boadum

doi:10.1016/j.crphar.2021.100040

Chronic administration of cryptolepine nanoparticle formulation alleviates seizures in a neurocysticercosis model

Curr Res Pharmacol Drug Discov. 2021 Jun 7:2:100040. doi: 10.1016/j.crphar.2021.100040. eCollection 2021.

Authors

Priscilla Kolibea Mante¹, Nana Ofori Adomako², Paulina Antwi¹, Nana Kofi Kusi-Boadum¹

Affiliations

¹ Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana.
² Department of Pharmacy Practice, Faculty of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana.

Abstract

Worldwide, neurocysticercosis remains an important cause of acquired epilepsy. We therefore seek to investigate the effectiveness of the nanoparticle formulation of cryptolepine in alleviating seizures in a neurocysticercosis model. A solid-lipid nanoparticle formulation of extracted cryptolepine was prepared. The parasites were maintained in T. crassiceps metacestode (ORF strain) - infected female BALB/c mice. Cryp (5 mg/kg), SLN-CRYP (5 mg/kg), ABZ (50 mg/kg) DXM (0.5 mg/kg), and PHE (30 mg/kg). were assessed for in vitro cysticidal, in vivo cysticidal and/or antiseizure activity in 70 mice that had developed seizures from infection with T. crassiceps. General pathologic processes were studied in the host tissue and inflammatory mediators were quantified from isolated mice brains. All treatments (CRYP, SLN-CRYP and ABZ) caused significantly reduced viability of T. crassiceps cysts. Treatment with SLN-CRYP significantly shrunk cysticerci and resolved ventricular expansion and deviation similar to albendazole on examination of encephala. SLN-CRYP inhibited hyperemia but was more effective against microgliosis, calcification, edema and meningitis. Mean seizure score was significantly reduced in models administered with SLN-CRYP (p < 0.0001); as were frequency (p < 0.0001) and duration (p < 0.0001) of seizures. SLN-CRYP significantly reduced brain homogenate levels of IL-10 (p = 0.0016) and IFN-γ (p < 0.0001). Our study shows that the chronic administration of the nanoparticle formulation of cryptolepine is effective in alleviating seizures associated with neurocysticercosis in a mouse model.

Keywords: Cryptolepis sanguinolenta; Cysticerci; Cysticidal; Epilepsy; Neglected tropical diseases; Taenia.