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. 2022 Jun 30;12(13):2262.
doi: 10.3390/nano12132262.

Liposomal Drug Delivery of Blumea lacera Leaf Extract: In-Vivo Hepatoprotective Effects

Mohammad Hossain Shariare  1 , Nusrat Jahan Khan Pinky  1 , Joynal Abedin  1 , Mohsin Kazi  2 , Mohammed S Aldughaim  3 , Mohammad N Uddin  4
Affiliations

Liposomal Drug Delivery of Blumea lacera Leaf Extract: In-Vivo Hepatoprotective Effects

Mohammad Hossain Shariare et al. Nanomaterials (Basel). .

Abstract

Background: Blumea lacera (B. lacera) is a herbaceous plant commonly found in south-east Asia. It shows significant therapeutic activities against various diseases. The objectives of this study were to evaluate hepatoprotective effects of Blumea lacera leaf extract and also to investigate the comparative effectiveness between a liposomal preparation and a suspension of B. lacera leaf extract against carbon tetrachloride (CCl4)-induced liver damage.

Methods: B. lacera leaf extract was characterized using a GC-MS method. A liposomal preparation of B. lacera leaf extract was developed using an ethanol injection method and characterized using dynamic light scattering (DLS) and electronic microscopic systems. The hepatoprotective effects of B. lacera leaf extracts and its liposomal preparation were investigated using CCl4-induced liver damage in Long Evan rats.

Results: GC-MS data showed the presence of different components (e.g., phytol) in the B. lacera leaf extract. DLS and microscopic data showed that a liposomal preparation of B. lacera leaf extracts was in the nano size range. In vivo study results showed that liposomal preparation and a suspension of B. lacera leaf extract normalized liver biochemical parameters, enzymes and oxidative stress markers which were elevated due to CCl4 administration. However, a liposomal formulation of B. lacera leaf extract showed significantly better hepatoprotective effects compared to a suspension of leaf extract. In addition, histopathological evaluation showed that B. lacera leaf extract and its liposomal preparation treatments decreased the extent of CCl4-induced liver inflammations.

Conclusion: Results demonstrated that B. lacera leaf extract was effective against CCl4-induced liver injury possibly due to the presence of components such as phytol. A liposomal preparation exhibited significantly better activity compared to a B. lacera suspension, probably due to improved bioavailability and stability of the leaf extract.

Keywords: Blumea lacera; hepatotoxicity; inflammations; liposome; particle size.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
GC-MS chromatogram of B. lacera leaf extract.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Particle size distribution (A) and TEM data (B) of liposomal preparation of the B. lacera leaf extract.
Figure 3
Figure 3
Effect of B. lacera leaf extract and its liposomal preparation on body weight of CCl4 treated rat for14 days. Data are presented as mean ± standard error of mean, where n = 6.
Figure 4
Figure 4
Effect of B. lacera leaf extract and its liposomal preparation on food intake of CCl4-treated rats for14 days. Data are presented as mean ± standard error of mean, where n = 6.
Figure 5
Figure 5
Effect of B. lacera leaf extract and its liposomal preparation on water intake of CCl4-treated rats for14 days. Data are presented as mean ± standard error of mean, where n = 6.
Figure 6
Figure 6
Effect of B. lacera leaf extract and its liposomal preparation on liver biomarker levels. Data are presented as mean ± SEM, n = 6. where * p ≤ 0.05, ** p ≤ 0.01, *** p ≤ 0.001, when compared between the CCl4, CCl4+ suspension and CCl4+ formulation (liposomal) groups. p ≤ 0.05 was considered statistical level of significance for all cases.
Figure 7
Figure 7
Effect of B. lacera leaf extract and its liposomal preparation on oxidative stress markers. Data are presented as mean ± SEM, n = 6. where * p ≤ 0.05, ** p ≤ 0.01, *** p ≤ 0.001, when compared between the CCl4, CCl4+ suspension and CCl4+ formulation (liposomal) groups. p ≤ 0.05 was considered statistical level of significance for all cases. MD: Malondialdehyde, APOP: Advanced protein oxidation products, NO: Nitric oxide.
Figure 8
Figure 8
Effects of B. lacera leaf extract and its liposomal preparation on liver antioxidant enzymes. Data are presented as mean ± SEM, n = 6. where * p ≤ 0.05, ** p ≤ 0.01, *** p ≤ 0.001, when compared between the CCl4, CCl4+ suspension and CCl4+ formulation (liposomal) groups. p ≤ 0.05 was considered the statistical level of significance for all cases. CAT: Catalase, GSH: Glutathione, SOD: Superoxide dismutase.
Figure 9
Figure 9
Effects of B. lacera leaf extract and its liposomal preparation on myeloperoxidase (MPO) activity. Data are presented as mean ± SEM, n = 6. where * p ≤ 0.05, *** p ≤ 0.001, when compared between the CCl4, CCl4+ suspension and CCl4+ formulation (liposomal) groups. p ≤ 0.05 was considered statistical level of significance for all cases.
Figure 10
Figure 10
Effects of B. lacera leaf extract and its liposomal preparation on CCl4-induced hepatic inflammation. (A) Control (Oil), (B) Control (Blank), (C) CCl4, (D) CC4 + suspension of B. lacera leaf extract, (E) CCl4 + liposomal nano formulation of B. lacera leaf extract. n = 6 per group; magnification = 40×.
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