Nanoencapsulation of quercetin enhances its dietary efficacy in combating arsenic-induced oxidative damage in liver and brain of rats

• Published in: Life sciences (1973) 2009-01, Vol.84 (3), p.75-80
• Main Authors: Ghosh, Aparajita, Mandal, Ardhendu K., Sarkar, Sibani, Panda, Subhamay, Das, Nirmalendu
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Animals; Arsenic - toxicity; Arsenites - toxicity; Brain - drug effects; Brain - metabolism; Diet; Female; Glutathione - metabolism; Lipid Peroxidation - drug effects; Liver - drug effects; Liver - metabolism; Mitochondrial Membranes - drug effects; Mitochondrial Membranes - metabolism; Nanocapsulated quercetin; Nanocapsules; Oxidation-Reduction; Oxidative damage; Quercetin - administration & dosage; Rats; Reactive oxygen species; Sodium arsenite; Sodium Compounds - toxicity
• ISSN: 0024-3205; 1879-0631
• DOI: 10.1016/j.lfs.2008.11.001

This study was performed to evaluate the therapeutic efficacy of nanocapsulated flavonoidal quercetin (QC) in combating arsenic-induced reactive oxygen species (ROS)-mediated oxidative damage in hepatocytes and brain cells in a rat model. Hepatic and neuronal cell damage in rats was made by a single injection (sc) of sodium arsenite (NaAsO 2, 13 mg/kg b. wt. in 0.5 ml of physiological saline). A single dose of 500 µl of quercetin suspension (QC) (QC 8.98 µmol/kg) or 500 µl of nanocapsulated QC (NPQC) (QC 8.98 µmol/kg) was given orally to rats at 90 min prior to the arsenite injection. Inorganic arsenic depositions (182 ± 15.6 and 110 ± 12.8 ng/g protein) were found in hepatic and neuronal mitochondrial membranes. Antioxidant levels in hepatic and neuronal cells were reduced significantly by arsenic. NPQC prevented the arsenite-induced reduction in antioxidant levels in the liver and brain. Arsenic induced a substantial decrease in liver and brain cell membrane microviscosities, and NPQC treatment resulted in a unique protection against the loss. A significant correlation between mitochondrial arsenic and its conjugated diene level was observed both in liver and brain cells for all experimental rats. Arsenic-specific antidotes are used against arsenic-induced toxicity. However, the target site is poorly recognized and therefore achieving an active concentration of drug molecules can be a challenge. Thus, our objective was to formulate NPQC and to investigate its therapeutic potential in an oral route against arsenite-induced hepatic and neuronal cell damage in a rat model.