ß-Caryophyllene nanoparticles design and development: Controlled drug delivery of cannabinoid CB2 agonist as a strategic tool towards neurodegeneration.

The sesquiterpene ß-caryophyllene (BCP) is a structurally singular cannabinoid and a selective agonist of the CB2 receptor, which in addition to being expressed in the CNS, is intrinsically expressed within the immune system and lacks psychoactivity. Nanoencapsulation of BCP can allow its controlled release into the CNS and intranasal administration. Thus, a protocol for nanoencapsulation of BCP was developed and optimized in order to adjust the desired bioactive content and physicochemical parameters. The formulation was assessed regarding nanoparticle size, zeta potential, morphology, pH, osmolarity, stability, and drug release kinetics in vitro. The final composition of the BCP nanoparticles presented in its organic phase (OP) Tween 20 (0.25%), BCP (0.1%), and PEG 400 (5%); and in its aqueous phase (AP) ultrapure water and poloxamer P188 (0.25%). The formulation showed to be suitable for intranasal administration, presenting pH 6.5 and osmolarity of 150 mmol/kg. The mean particle diameter was 147.2 nm, PDI 0.052, and zeta potential of -24.5. The accelerated stability test showed that nanoparticles were stable for up to 1 month, when reversible creaming effect occurred. Besides, it was noted a low rate of particle accumulation and particle size distribution remained unchanged. BCP nanoparticles were shown to be promptly released in physiological medium (up to 60 min). In this work, a formulation containing ß-caryophyllene nanoparticles suitable for physiological administration and preclinical tests was successfully developed.

Essential oil from Pterodon emarginatus seeds ameliorates experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis by modulating Th1/Treg cell balance.

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: Pterodon emarginatus Vogel is a medicinal plant commonly used in Brazilian traditional medicine as a folk therapy due to its immunosuppressive, anti-inflammatory, anti-rheumatic, healing, tonic and depurative activities. The essential oil (EO) of Pterodon emarginatus is composed of volatile aromatic terpenes and phenyl propanoids, mainly, ß-elemene and ß-caryophyllene sesquiterpenes. Here we reported the effects and some underlying mechanisms of action of EO during murine model of MS, the experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE). MATERIALS AND METHODS: EO (50 and 100 mg/kg) was orally administered during the entire period of development of EAE (preventive treatment, day 0-25). In vitro and in vivo immunological responses were evaluated by ELISA, immunohistochemistry, immunofluorescence and flow cytometry. RESULTS: We provide evidence that EO of Pterodon emarginatus (100 mg/kg, p.o.) significantly attenuates neurological signs and also the development of EAE. Furthermore, at the same dose EO consistently inhibited Th1 cell-mediated immune response and upregulated Treg response in vitro. Moreover, the EO inhibited both microglial activation and expression of iNOS, associated with inhibition of axonal demyelization and neuronal death during the development of the disease. CONCLUSION: This is the first experimental evidence showing that oral administration of EO consistently reduces and limits the severity and development of EAE, mainly, through the modulation of Th1/Treg immune balance, and might represent a helpful new tool for control immunoinflammatory conditions, such as MS.

Spatial reference memory deficits precede motor dysfunction in an experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis model: the role of kallikrein-kinin system.

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a progressive T cell-mediated autoimmune demyelinating inflammatory disease of the central nervous system (CNS). Although it is recognized that cognitive deficits represent a manifestation of the disease, the underlying pathogenic mechanisms remain unknown. Here we provide evidence of spatial reference memory impairments during the pre-motor phase of experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE) in mice. Specifically, these cognitive deficits were accompanied by down-regulation of choline acetyltransferase (ChAT) mRNA expression on day 5 and 11 post-immunization, and up-regulation of inflammatory cytokines in the hippocampus and prefrontal cortex. Moreover, a marked increase in B1R mRNA expression occurred selectively in the hippocampus, whereas protein level was up-regulated in both brain areas. Genetic deletion of kinin B1R attenuated cognitive deficits and cholinergic dysfunction, and blocked mRNA expression of both IL-17 and IFN-γ in the prefrontal cortex, lymph node and spleen of mice subjected to EAE. The discovery of kinin receptors, mainly B1R, as a target for controlling neuroinflammatory response, as well as the cognitive deficits induced by EAE may foster the therapeutic exploitation of the kallikrein-kinin system (KKS), in particular for the treatment of autoimmune disorders, such as MS, mainly during pre-symptomatic phase.