Synthesis of a green bigel using cottonseed oil/cannabis oil/alginate/ferula gum for quercetin release: Synergistic effects for treating infertility in rats.

Although therapeutic effect of quercetin (Quer) was reported on non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), destructive effects have been shown on male fertility due to its pro-oxidative properties. On the other hand, NAFLD impairs germ cells to produce sperm and leads to male infertility. Herein, a biocompatible and green bigel was designed for Quer delivery to prevent infertility induced by NAFLD as the increasing complications. Bigels were prepared using cottonseed oil/cannabis oil/alginate/ferula gum and optimized by the mixture design method. NAFLD was induced by 58% of dietary calorie as lard and 42 g/l fructose for 16 weeks in Sprague-Dawley rats. So on animals received 2 mg/kg Quer loaded on bigels, free bigels, or free Quer for 45 days as daily gavage. Semen was analyzed, followed by the assessment of DNA integrity. Count, motility, and normal morphology reached the healthy control group at the bigel-Quer-treated one. Moreover, all of these parameters were significantly higher in the bigel-Quer group than the Quer and bigel, alone. The percent of sperms with head and tail abnormality decreased considerably in the bigel-Quer group compared with the Quer, free bigel, and NAFLD groups. Serum testosterone levels significantly increased and reached the healthy control group in the bigel-Quer group. DNA fragmentation of sperm significantly decreased in the bigel-Quer group (p < 0.05). The bigel showed synergistic effects with Quer for treating infertility in rats with NAFLD.

Enhancing quercetin bioavailability by super paramagnetic starch-based hydrogel grafted with fumaric acid: An in vitro and in vivo study.

Application of Quercetin (Quer) as a natural flavonoid is confined because of limited solubility in water and stability in the body. Herein, we prepared a biodegradable super paramagnetic starch-based hydrogel grafted onto fumaric acid for increasing Quer bioavailability and controlling its release. The molecular structure of starch was modified by using fumaric acid to increase hydrophilicity of hydrogel, and iron oxide nanoparticles is used to strengthen its physical and mechanical properties. The structural, morphological and magnetic properties of the optimized hydrogel were characterized. Application of the synthesized hydrogel was assessed in the in vitro and in vivo studies. In vitro release curve was nicely fitted to the Higuchi model. Stability and bioavailability of Quer were significantly increased at the plasma and liver of rats which received 100 mg kg-1 Quer- loaded on synthetic hydrogel compared with 100 mg kg-1 free Quer (p < 0.05).