Green synthesis of nano-liposomes containing Bunium persicum and Trachyspermum ammi essential oils against Trichomonasvaginalis.

BACKGROUND: Trichomonas vaginalis, a parasitic flagellated protozoan, is one of the main non-viral sexually transmitted diseases worldwide. Treatment options for trichomoniasis are limited to nitroimidazole compounds. However, resistance to these drugs has been reported, which requires the development of new anti-Trichomonas agents that confer suitable efficacy and less toxicity. METHODS: In the present work, we assessed the effectiveness of the liposomal system containing essential oils of Bunium persicum and Trachyspermum ammi against T. vaginalis in vitro. The chemical composition of B. persicum and T. ammi were analyzed using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). Liposomal vesicles were prepared with phosphatidylcholine) 70%) and cholesterol)30%) using the thin-film method. The essential oils of B. persicum and T. ammi were loaded into the liposomes using the inactive loading method. Liposomal vesicles were made for two plants separately. Their physicochemical features were tested using Zeta-Sizer, AFM and SEM. The anti-Trichomonas activity was determined after 12 and 24 h of parasite cultures in TYI-S-33 medium. RESULTS: After 12 and 24 h of administration, the IC50 of the B. persicum essential oil nano-liposomes induced 14.41 µg/mL and 45.19 µg/mL, respectively. The IC50 of T. ammi essential oil nano-liposomes induced 8.08 µg/mL and 25.81 µg/mL, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: These data suggested that nano-liposomes of the essential oils of B. persicum and T. ammi may be a promising alternative to current treatments for Trichomonas infection.

Multifunctional PEGylated Niosomal Nanoparticle-Loaded Herbal Drugs as a Novel Nano-Radiosensitizer and Stimuli-Sensitive Nanocarrier for Synergistic Cancer Therapy.

Nowadays, radiotherapy is one of the most effective treatments for breast cancer. In order to overcome the radioresistance of cancer cells, radio-sensitizing agents can be used combined with irradiation to increase the therapeutic efficiency. Curcumin can enhance the radiosensitivity of cancer cells and decrease their viability by the accumulation of these cells in the G2 phase. The encapsulation of curcumin in a nanoniosomal delivery system increases aqueous solubility and bioavailability, resulting in increased radio sensitivity. The present study aimed to enhance the radio-sensitizing effect of the curcumin-containing nanoniosome (Cur-Nio) when combined with irradiation. Thus, curcumin (0.5 mg ml-1) was loaded on a PEGylated nanoniosome containing Tween 60, cholesterol, DOTAP, and 1,2-distearoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphoethanolamine-poly(ethylene glycol) (DSPE-PEG) (at ratios of 70:30:10:5, respectively) by the thin-film hydration method. The particle size, zeta potential, entrapment efficiency, and drug-release rate of formulated nanoniosomes were determined. In order to assess cytotoxicity and apoptosis, different doses of irradiation along with various concentrations of free curcumin and Cur-Nio (single or in combination with irradiation) were treated with breast cancer cells. The particle size and zeta potential of Cur-Nio were reported to be 117.5 nm and -15.1 mV, respectively. The entrapment efficiency (EE%) and loading capacities were 72.3% and 6.68%, respectively. The drug-release rate during 6 h was 65.9%. Cell survival in the presence of curcumin at doses of 1 and 3 Gy showed a significant reduction compared with cells irradiated at 48 h and 72 h (p < 0.000). Also, the rate of cytotoxicity and apoptosis was significantly higher in cells treated with the combination of curcumin-containing nanoniosomes and irradiation in comparison with those treated with free curcumin. These findings indicate that the efficacy of pre-treatment with Cur-Nio as a radiosensitizer during radiotherapy enhances irradiation-induced breast cancer cell apoptosis and is a useful strategy to increase the effectiveness of breast cancer therapy.