Exploring non-cytotoxic, antioxidant, and anti-inflammatory properties of selenium nanoparticles synthesized from Gymnema sylvestre and Cinnamon cassia extracts for herbal nanomedicine.

The increasing need for pharmaceutical agents that possess attributes such as safety, cost-effectiveness, environmental sustainability, and absence of side effects has driven the advancement of nanomedicine research, which lies at the convergence of nanotechnology and medicine. AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: The study aimed to synthesize non-toxic selenium nanoparticles (SeNPs) using Gymnema sylvestre (G. sylvestre) and Cinnamon cassia (C. cassia) extracts. It also sought to develop and evaluate versatile nanomedicine formulations i.e. selenium nanoparticles of G. sylvestre and C. cassia (SeNPs), drug (lupeol) loaded SeNPs (DLSeNPs), drug-loaded and coated (PEG) SeNPs (DLCSeNPs) without side effects. METHODS: The SeNPs formulations were hydrothermally synthesized, loaded with lupeol to improve efficacy, coated with polyethylene glycol (PEG) for targeted delivery, and characterized using UV-Vis spectrophotometry, Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), zeta potential analysis, size distribution analysis, and X-ray diffraction (XRD). Hemolytic cytotoxicity, 2,2-Diphenyl-1-picrylhydzayl (DPPH), total Reducing power, and total antioxidant capacity (TAC) antioxidant assays, carrageenan-induced paw edema, and histological studies were used to estimate the acute anti-inflammatory activity of the synthesized SeNPs. RESULTS: The final form of PEGylated and drug (lupeol)-loaded selenium nanoparticles (DLCSeNPs) exhibited an average particle size ranging from 100 to 500 nm as evidenced by SEM, and Zeta potential results. These nanoparticles demonstrated no cytotoxic effects and displayed remarkable antioxidant (IC50 values 19.29) and anti-inflammatory capabilities. These results were fed into Graph-pad Prism 5 software and analyzed by one-way ANOVA, followed by Tukey's post hoc test (p < 0.001). All nano-formulations exhibited significant overall antioxidant activity, with IC50 values ≤ 386 (p < 0.05) as analyzed by ANOVA. The study's results suggest that G. sylvestre outperformed C. cassia in terms of reducing 2,2-diphenyl-1-picryl-hydrazyl-hydrate (DPPH) free radical, potassium ferricyanide, and ammonium molybdate in respective antioxidant assays. As far as anti-inflammatory activities are concerned drug (lupeol)-loaded and PEG-coated G. sylvestre SeNPs exhibited the highest anti-inflammatory potential from all other nano-formulations including drug (lupeol)-loaded and PEG-coated C. cassia SeNPs, as exhibited to reduce the release of pro-inflammatory signals i.e. cytokines and NF-kB, making them innovative anti-inflammatory nanomedicine. CONCLUSION: The study synthesized lupeol-loaded and PEG-coated SeNPs, showcasing the potential for biocompatible, cost-effective anti-inflammatory nanomedicines. G. Sylvester's superior antioxidant and anti-inflammatory performance than Cinnamon cassia emphasizes medicinal plant versatility.

Acute toxicity studies and protective effects of Cinnamon cassia bark extract in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats.

The medicinal properties of Cinnamon cassia (C. cassia) bark have been reported for their clinical importance for many diseases including diabetes. However, there is no clear evidence so far regarding dose selection for its hepato- and nephroprotective effect in diabetic condition. Hence, the present study aims at evaluating in vitro antioxidant activity, the acute toxicity, and dose fixation of C. cassia bark for their effective medicinal values in streptozotocin (STZ)-induced rats. All the extracts exhibited potential in vitro antioxidant activity and showed a dose-dependent (1000, 2000, 3000, 4000, and 5000 mg/kg BW) acute toxicity by in vivo model. The levels of aspartate transaminase (AST), alanine transaminase (ALT), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), urea, and creatinine showed a significant elevation in animals treated with the highest dose. In further studies along with histopathological studies, animals treated with STZ (60 mg/kg BW) followed by a different dose (300, 400, and 500 mg/kg BW) of ethanolic extract of the C. cassia bark and glibenclamide (3 mg/kg BW) revealed that the altered level of mitochondrial enzymes, hepatic, and renal marker in STZ-induced animals were restored in C. cassia bark extract-treated group as of control. These results could be of scientific support for the use of the ethanolic extract of the C. cassia bark in folk medicine for the management of diabetes and its associated complications.

Evaluation of on-site testing methods with a novel 3-in-1 miniaturized spectroscopic device for cinnamon screening.

"True cinnamon" is often fraudulently replaced by other varieties for economic reasons. In the powdered form, it is not possible to distinguish the varieties visually, but they differ in their sensory profile, in particular in the aromatic compound coumarin content which has also been deemed hepatotoxic in animal models. Molecular and analytical techniques exist which can be used for authentication but are expensive, time-consuming, and destructive. As an alternative, we tested three different miniaturized spectroscopic techniques namely, ultraviolet-visible (UV-Vis), near-infrared (NIR) and fluorescence (FLUO) to authenticate cinnamon samples. Out of the three, UV-Vis and NIR were superior to FLUO. The separation with UV-Vis and FLUO could be visually identified after pre-processing the spectral data and subsequently submitting it to principal component analysis (PCA). When chemometrics were applied a correct classification rate by variety of 89%, 90% and 89% for UV-Vis, NIR, and fluorescence spectroscopy, respectively, was observed. The usage of miniaturized spectrophotometers combined with PCA and classification algorithms was found promising to authenticate cinnamon.

Anti-diabetic and hypolipidemic effects of Cinnamon cassia bark extracts: an in vitro, in vivo, and in silico approach.

The present investigation was aimed to study the anti-diabetic and hypolipidemic potential of Cinnamon cassia (Lauraceae family) bark in streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic rats. The preliminary phytochemical analysis (hexane, petroleum ether, chloroform, ethanol, methanol, and aqueous extracts), GC-MS analysis (ethanol), in vitro (aqueous, ethanol and methanol), in vivo (ethanol) and in silico anti-diabetic activity with hypolipidemic effect of C. cassia bark was analysed. The ethanolic extract of the C. cassia bark has a fine inhibitory activity than the aqueous and methanolic extract. Out of 20 different compounds identified, seven compounds were biologically active, and 9-octadecenoic acid has highly interacted with PPARα/γ in docking studies. The levels of diabetic markers, enzymes, and lipid profiles were altered in STZ-induced rats, but after the treatment of C. cassia, the levels were returned to the normal. The study may prove the ethanolic extract of C. cassia has a powerful anti-diabetic and anti-hyperlipidemic activity.

Studies on the potential protective effect of cinnamon against bisphenol A- and octylphenol-induced oxidative stress in male albino rats.

Among the numerous chemicals discharged into the surrounding environment, bisphenol A (BPA) and octylphenol (OP) have been shown to increase oxidative stress in body by disturbing the prooxidant/antioxidant balance of cells. Cinnamon aqueous extract (CAE) is a natural product rich in polyphenolic compounds that have antioxidant activity. This study was designed to investigate the protective efficacy of CAE against oxidative disorders induced by BPA and OP in male albino rats. Animals were divided into 6 groups (10 rats each) and treated orally, 3 times weekly for 50 days. Group 1: control vehicle (olive oil); group 2 (25 mg BPA/kg b.wt./day); group 3 (25 mg OP/kg b.wt./day); group 4 (200 mg CAE/kg b.wt./day); group 5 (CAE 2 h before BPA administration); and group 6 (CAE 2 h before OP administration). BPA- and OP-exposed groups showed insignificant elevation in the final body weight; weight gains and significant reduction only in the relative kidneys weight. Also, BPA and OP exposure resulted in significant increase in serum urea, creatinine and kidney, brain, testicular malondialdehyde (MDA) levels. Significant reduction in tissues reduced glutathione (GSH) contents; catalase (CAT) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) activities were also recorded in BPA and OP exposed animals compared to the control vehicle group. Pretreatment with CAE 2 h either before BPA or OP administration ameliorated the BPA- and OP-induced body weight; weight gains and relative organs weight changes and biochemical adverse effects. CAE pretreatment also protected against the recorded pathological changes in kidney, brain and testis. In conclusion, CAE could ameliorate the oxidative toxic effects of BPA and OP indicating its protective antioxidant effect.