A novel quercetin/β-cyclodextrin transdermal gel, combined or not with therapeutic ultrasound, reduces oxidative stress after skeletal muscle injury

Abstract

A gel containing the inclusion complex of quercetin and β-cyclodextrin was developed in order to verify its effects, isolated or using phonophoresis, on oxidative biomarkers after skeletal muscle injury. 30 male rats were divided into one of five groups: Control (CTRL), Muscle Injury (MI), Therapeutic Pulsed Ultrasound (TPU), Therapeutic Pulsed Ultrasound plus Quercetin (TPU plus gel-QUE) or Quercetin gel (QUE). Quercetin gel was complexed with β-Cyclodextrin (β-CD) using chromatography (HPLC). TPU and quercetin application occurred with 2, 12, 24, 48, 72, 96 hours intervals after injury. Gastrocnemius muscle was injured by mechanical trauma. Lipid peroxidation, superoxide dismutase activity, and catalase activity were assessed. The inclusion complex exhibited adequate entrapment efficiency, relative density and pH. The viscosity of the complex showed a non-Newtonian pseudoplastic behavior. Quercetin/β-cyclodextrin gel reduced lipid peroxidation, superoxide dismutase activity and catalase activity compared to muscle injury group. Similarly, phonophoresis and TPU also reduced the levels of these oxidative biomarkers. In conclusion, quercetin/β-cyclodextrin transdermal gel reduces oxidative stress biomarkers after skeletal muscle injury irrespective of using phonophoresis.

Fig. 1. Muscle injury device. The trauma was produced by the metallic mass (0.459 kg) falling from height of 18 cm on the gastrocnemius muscle.

Fig. 2. DSC curves of quercetin free form, β-CD and inclusion complex.

Fig. 3. Quercetin chromatographic profile by HPLC (320 nm).

Fig. 4. Macroscopic aspect of gel containing quercetin/β-CD 1 : 1.

Fig. 5. Spread ability profile of Carbopol gel containing quercetin/β-CD 10%.

Fig. 6. Rheological curve of formulation showing the pseudoplastic behavior of the sample.

Fig. 7. Lipid peroxidation levels (mean ± SD) 98 hours after muscle injury for each experimental group: CTRL, control; MI, muscle injury; TPU, therapeutic pulsed ultrasound; TPU plus gel-QUE, therapeutic pulsed ultrasound plus quercetin; and QUE, quercetin. *p < 0.05 compared to control.

Fig. 8. Superoxide dismutase activity (mean ± SD) 98 h after muscle injury for each experimental group: CTRL, control; MI, muscle injury; TPU, therapeutic pulsed ultrasound; TPU plus gel-QUE, therapeutic pulsed ultrasound plus quercetin; and QUE, quercetin. *p < 0.05 compared to control.

Fig. 9. Catalase activity (mean ± SD) 98 h after muscle injury for each experimental group: CTRL, control; MI, muscle injury; TPU, therapeutic pulsed ultrasound; TPU plus gel-QUE, therapeutic pulsed ultrasound plus quercetin; and QUE, quercetin. *p < 0.05 compared to control.