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Nanotechnological or Innovative Formulation Approaches for Efficient Delivery of Plant Ingredients

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A special issue of Plants (ISSN 2223-7747). This special issue belongs to the section "Phytochemistry".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (31 May 2022) | Viewed by 41558

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Dr. Konstantinos Gardikis

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Reseach and Development Department, APIVITA SA, Industrial Park of Markopoulo Mesogaias, 19003 Athens, Greece
Interests: encapsulation; physical chemistry; drug delivery systems; natural product extraction; nanotechnology
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Dr. Ioannis Mourtzinos

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Laboratory of Food Chemistry and Biochemistry, Department of Food Science and Technology, School of Agriculture, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 54124 Thessaloniki, Greece
Interests: encapsulation; green extraction; aromatic and medicinal products; agricultural by-products; cyclodextrins
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Natural products have seen an unprecedented increase in both research and commercialization during the last few decades. Secondary and primary metabolites from plants have been isolated and studied for their potential biological efficacy, leading to either new medicines or food supplements/nutraceuticals/herbal medicines. New extraction techniques mainly focusing on “green” extraction have been extensively applied, increasing yields and reducing the use of solvents and overall environmental impact. One aspect of extraction process enhancement is the use of encapsulation matrixes or nanoparticles, such as cyclodextrins, liposomes, micelles etc. Indeed, such approaches have been found useful in the increase of yields and the selective extraction of groups of molecules. The current Special Issue focuses on such approaches—new encapsulation techniques or new applications for metabolite extraction from plants, study of interaction between guest and host molecules, and bioactivity studies on such systems.

Dr. Κonstantinos Gardikis
Dr. Ioannis Mourtzinos
Guest Editors

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Keywords

Nanotechnology
Encapsulation
Extraction
Natural product chemistry
Delivery systems

Related Special Issue

Nanotechnological or Innovative Formulation Approaches for Efficient Delivery of Plant Ingredients II in Plants (3 articles)

Published Papers (13 papers)

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Research

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11 pages, 1208 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Euphorbia characias Extract: Inhibition of Skin Aging-Related Enzymes and Nanoformulation

by Francesca Pintus, Sonia Floris, Antonella Fais, Benedetta Era, Clara Porcedda, Carlo Ignazio Giovanni Tuberoso and Carla Caddeo

Plants 2022, 11(14), 1849; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants11141849 - 14 Jul 2022

Cited by 6 | Viewed by 1562

Abstract

Plant extracts have long served as important sources of bioactive compounds, and they are currently the focus of extensive research in the development of novel preventive and therapeutic strategies. However, their health benefits are often limited by low bioavailability. Nanoparticle delivery systems can represent a solution to such limitations. Euphorbia characias is a Mediterranean shrub known to have biological activities, such as inhibiting tyrosinase and showing a potential role as a skin-whitening agent. In this study, an ethanolic extract from E. characias leaves was tested for its inhibitory activity on skin-related enzymes, such as elastase, collagenase, and hyaluronidase, and for sun protection factors. Moreover, the extract was formulated in phospholipid vesicles to improve its local bioavailability and applicability. The vesicles were characterized by size, surface charge, storage stability, and entrapment efficiency. The nanoformulation was also evaluated for antioxidant activity and assayed for cytocompatibility and anti-tyrosinase activity in melanoma cells. Our findings demonstrated that the extract has a photo-protective effect and enzyme-inhibitory properties. E. characias nanoformulation was also cytocompatible and improved the extract’s activity in the cells, suggesting a potential skin application for antimelanogenic treatments and confirming the key role of nanotechnological approaches to maximize plant extract’s potentialities. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Nanotechnological or Innovative Formulation Approaches for Efficient Delivery of Plant Ingredients)

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14 pages, 5202 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Antimicrobial Activities against Opportunistic Pathogenic Bacteria Using Green Synthesized Silver Nanoparticles in Plant and Lichen Enzyme-Assisted Extracts

by Aistė Balčiūnaitienė, Paulina Štreimikytė, Viktorija Puzerytė, Jonas Viškelis, Žaneta Štreimikytė-Mockeliūnė, Žaneta Maželienė, Vaidė Sakalauskienė and Pranas Viškelis

Plants 2022, 11(14), 1833; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants11141833 - 13 Jul 2022

Cited by 6 | Viewed by 1935

Abstract

Enzyme-assisted extraction is a valuable tool for mild and environmentally-friendly extraction conditions to release bioactive compounds and sugars, essential for silver nanoparticle (AgNP) green synthesis as capping and reducing agents. In this research, plant and fungal kingdoms were selected to obtain the enzyme-assisted extracts, using green synthesized AgNPs. For the synthesis, pseudo-cereal Fagopyrum esculentum (F. esculentum) and lichen Certaria islandica (C. islandica) extracts were used as environmentally-friendly agents under heating in an aqueous solution. Raw and enzyme-assisted extracts of AgNPs were characterized by physicochemical, phytochemical, and morphological characteristics through scanning and transmission electron microscopy (SEM and TEM), as well as Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). The synthesized nanoparticles were spherical in shape and well dispersed, with average sizes ranging from 10 to 50 nm. This study determined the total phenolic content (TPC) and in vitro antioxidant activity in both materials by applying standard methods. The results showed that TPC, ABTS^•+, FRAP, and DPPH^• radical scavenging activities varied greatly in samples. The AgNPs derived from enzymatic hydrolyzed aqueous extracts C. islandica and F. esculentum exhibited higher antibacterial activity against the tested bacterial pathogens than their respective crude extracts. Results indicate that the extracts’ biomolecules covering the AgNPs may enhance the biological activity of silver nanoparticles and enzyme assistance as a sustainable additive to technological processes to achieve higher yields and necessary media components. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Nanotechnological or Innovative Formulation Approaches for Efficient Delivery of Plant Ingredients)

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24 pages, 6606 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Hybrid Nanoparticles of Proanthocyanidins from Uncaria tomentosa Leaves: QTOF-ESI MS Characterization, Antioxidant Activity and Immune Cellular Response

by Andrea Mariela Araya-Sibaja, Krissia Wilhelm-Romero, Felipe Vargas-Huertas, María Isabel Quirós-Fallas, Diego Alvarado-Corella, Juan José Mora-Román, José Roberto Vega-Baudrit, Andrés Sánchez-Kopper and Mirtha Navarro-Hoyos

Plants 2022, 11(13), 1737; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants11131737 - 30 Jun 2022

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1869

Abstract

Previous studies in Uncaria tomentosa have shown promising results concerning the characterization of polyphenols with leaves yielding more diverse proanthocyanidins and higher bioactivities values. However, the polyphenols-microbiota interaction at the colonic level and their catabolites avoid the beneficial effects that can be exerted by this medicinal plant when consumed. In this regard, a new generation of hybrid nanoparticles has demonstrated improvements in natural compounds’ activity by increasing their bioavailability. In this line, we report a detailed study of the characterization of a proanthocyanidin-enriched extract (PA-E) from U. tomentosa leaves from Costa Rica using UPLC-QTOF-ESI MS. Moreover, two types of hybrid nanoparticles, a polymeric-lipid (F-1) and a protein-lipid (F-2) loaded with PA-E were synthesized and their characterization was conducted by dynamic light scattering (DLS), attenuated total reflectance Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (ATR-FT-IR), high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HR-TEM), and encapsulation efficiency (%EE). In addition, in vitro release, antioxidant activity through 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhidrazyl (DPPH) as well as in vivo delayed-type hypersensitivity (DTH) reaction was evaluated. Results allowed the identification of 50 different compounds. The PA-E loaded nanoparticles F-1 and F-2 achieved encapsulation efficiency of ≥92%. The formulations exhibited porosity and spherical shapes with a size average of 26.1 ± 0.8 and 11.8 ± 3.3 nm for F-1 and F-2, respectively. PA-E increased its release rate from the nanoparticles compared to the free extract in water and antioxidant activity in an aqueous solution. In vivo, the delayed-type hypersensitive test shows the higher immune stimulation of the flavan-3-ols with higher molecular weight from U. tomentosa when administered as a nanoformulation, resulting in augmented antigen-specific responses. The present work constitutes to our knowledge, the first report on these bioactivities for proanthocyanidins from Uncaria tomentosa leaves when administrated by nanosystems, hence, enhancing the cellular response in mice, confirming their role in immune modulation. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Nanotechnological or Innovative Formulation Approaches for Efficient Delivery of Plant Ingredients)

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17 pages, 7240 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Combined In Silico and Experimental Investigations of Resveratrol Encapsulation by Beta-Cyclodextrin

by Ainara Iskineyeva, Serik Fazylov, Ryszhan Bakirova, Akmaral Sarsenbekova, Irina Pustolaikina, Olzhas Seilkhanov, Aisha A. Alsfouk, Eslam B. Elkaeed, Ibrahim H. Eissa and Ahmed M. Metwaly

Plants 2022, 11(13), 1678; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants11131678 - 24 Jun 2022

Cited by 9 | Viewed by 1861

Abstract

The results of the computational and the physicochemical studies of the encapsulation of resveratrol with β-cyclodextrin are presented here. At first, the molecular docking experiments predicted good binding. Several MD simulations and MM-PBSA experiments confirmed the reliable binding, showing optimal kinetics and energy. As an application, resveratrol inclusion complexes with β-cyclodextrin were obtained in an aqueous alcohol medium via microwave treatment. The results of thermographic measurements of the obtained clathrates using a differential scanning calorimeter are presented, and the obtained activation energy was calculated using the Ozawa–Flynn–Wall and Friedman methods, as well as nonparametric kinetics. The effect of complexation on the kinetic parameters of thermal destruction of the β-cyclodextrin–resveratrol inclusion complex was considered. The morphology of the surface of the obtained clathrate complexes was described using a scanning electron microscope. The spectral properties of the inclusion complex were characterized by FT-IR, ¹H, and ¹³С NMR spectroscopic data. The obtained in silico, morphological, thermogravimetric, and spectral results confirmed the formation of the resveratrol–β-cyclodextrin complex. The antioxidant activities of the inclusion complex were determined to be 12.1 μg/mL, compared to 14.3 μg/mL for free resveratrol, indicating an improvement in the bioactivity. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Nanotechnological or Innovative Formulation Approaches for Efficient Delivery of Plant Ingredients)

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19 pages, 4671 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Cytotoxic Effects of Phytomediated Silver and Gold Nanoparticles Synthesised from Rooibos (Aspalathus linearis), and Aspalathin

by Akeem O. Akinfenwa, Naeem S. Abdul, Fathima T. Docrat, Jeanine L. Marnewick, Robbie C. Luckay and Ahmed A. Hussein

Plants 2021, 10(11), 2460; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants10112460 - 15 Nov 2021

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 2406

Abstract

The green chemistry approach has continuously been applied for the synthesis of functional nanomaterials to reduce waste, environmental hazards, and the use of toxic chemicals among other reasons. Bioactive natural compounds have been found great potential in this regard and are used to improve the stability, activity, and biodistribution of metal nanoparticles (MNPs). Aspalathin (ASP) from Aspalathus linearis (rooibos) has a well-defined pharmacological profile and functional groups capable of both reducing and capping agents in the synthesis of metallic nanoparticles (NP). This study provides the first report of the phytomediated synthesis of gold and silver nanoparticles (AuNPs/AgNPs) via ASP and the green rooibos (GR) extract. The study demonstrated a green chemistry approach to the biosynthesis of nanoparticles of GR-AuNPs, ASP-AuNPs, GR-AgNPs, and ASP-AgNPs. The results showed that GR and ASP could act both as reducing and stabilising agents in the formation of crystalline, with different shapes and dispersity of NPs in the ranges of 1.6–6.7 nm for AgNPs and 7.5–12.5 nm for the AuNPs. However, the ASP NPs were less stable in selected biogenic media compared to GR NPs and were later stabilised with polyethene glycol. The cytotoxicity studies showed that GR-AgNPs were the most cytotoxic against SH-SY5Y and HepG2 with IC₅₀ 108.8 and 183.4 μg/mL, respectively. The cellular uptake analysis showed a high uptake of AuNPs and indicated that AgNPs of rooibos at a lower dose (1.3–1.5 μg/mL) is favourable for its anticancer potential. This study is a contribution to plant-mediated metallic nanoparticles using a pure single compound that can be further developed for targeted drug delivery for cancer cells treatments in the coming years. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Nanotechnological or Innovative Formulation Approaches for Efficient Delivery of Plant Ingredients)

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14 pages, 4376 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Inhibition of Melanoma Cells A375 by Carotenoid Extract and Nanoemulsion Prepared from Pomelo Leaves

by Man-Hai Liu, Yi-Fen Li and Bing-Huei Chen

Plants 2021, 10(10), 2129; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants10102129 - 07 Oct 2021

Cited by 6 | Viewed by 2152

Abstract

This study aims to determine carotenoids in pomelo leaves (Citrus grandis Osbeck), a rich source of nutrients and phytochemicals, by high-performance liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry and prepare carotenoid nanoemulsions for the study of its inhibitory mechanism on melanoma cells A375. Fourteen carotenoids were separated within 27 min by using a YMC-C30 column and a gradient mobile phase of methanol-acetonitrile-water (84:14:2, v/v/v) and methylene chloride with a flow rate of 1 mL/min and detection wavelength of 450 nm. All-trans-lutein plus its cis-isomers were present in the largest amount (3012.97 μg/g), followed by all-trans-neoxanthin (309.2 μg/g), all-trans-violaxanthin (208.5 μg/g), all-trans-β-carotene plus its cis-isomers (203.17 μg/g), all-trans-α-carotene plus its cis-isomers (152.5 μg/g), all-trans-zeaxanthin (54.67 μg/g), and all-trans-β-cryptoxanthin plus its cis-isomers (24.56 μg/g). A stable carotenoid nanoemulsion was prepared with a mean particle size of 13.3 nm, zeta-potential of −66.6 mV, a polydispersity index of 0.132 and an encapsulation efficiency of 99%. Both the carotenoid extract and nanoemulsion could upregulate p53, p21, cyclin B and cyclin A expressions in melanoma A375 cells and downregulate CDK1 and CDK2 in a concentration-dependent manner. Also, they could upregulate Bax and cytochrome-C and downregulate Bcl-2, leading to cell apoptosis through activation of caspase-9, caspase-8 and caspase-3. Compared to extract, carotenoid nanoemulsion was shown to be more effective in inhibiting the growth of melanoma cells A375. This finding further demonstrated that a carotenoid nanoemulsion prepared from pomelo leaves possessed a great potential to be developed into functional foods or even botanic drugs. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Nanotechnological or Innovative Formulation Approaches for Efficient Delivery of Plant Ingredients)

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18 pages, 2638 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Preparation of Chlorophyll Nanoemulsion from Pomelo Leaves and Its Inhibition Effect on Melanoma Cells A375

by Man-Hai Liu, Yi-Fen Li and Bing-Huei Chen

Plants 2021, 10(8), 1664; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants10081664 - 12 Aug 2021

Cited by 14 | Viewed by 3949

Abstract

Pomelo (Citrus grandis), an important fruit crop grown in tropical and subtropical areas, is cultivated mainly in Asian countries. The dominant pigment in pomelo leaves, chlorophyll, has been reported to possess many biological activities such as antioxidant, anti-inflammation and anticancer. The objectives of this study were to determine chlorophylls in Pomelo leaves by high-performance liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (HPLC-MS) and to encapsulate the isolated chlorophylls from preparative column chromatography into a nanoemulsion system for elucidating the inhibition mechanism on the growth of melanoma cells A375. The results showed that chlorophyll a and chlorophyll b could be separated within 25 min by using a C18 column and a gradient ternary mobile phase of acetone, acetonitrile and methanol. Pomelo leaves mainly contained chlorophyll a (2278.3 μg/g) and chlorophyll b (785.8 μg/g). A highly stable chlorophyll nanoemulsion was prepared with the mean particle size being 13.2 nm as determined by a dynamic light scattering (DLS) method. The encapsulation efficiency of chlorophyll nanoemulsion was 99%, while the zeta potential was −64.4 mV. In addition, the chlorophyll nanoemulsion possessed high thermal stability up to 100 °C and remained stable over a 90-day storage period at 4 °C. Western blot analysis revealed that chlorophyll nanoemulsion and extract could upregulate p53, p21, cyclin B and cyclin A as well as downregulate CDK1 and CDK2 in a concentration-dependent manner for inhibition of melanoma cells A375. Furthermore, chlorophyll nanoemulsion and extract could upregulate Bax and cytochrome C and downregulate Bcl-2, leading to activation of caspase-9, caspase-8 and caspase-3 for the induction of cell apoptosis. Compared to chlorophyll extract, chlorophyll nanoemulsion was more effective in inhibiting the growth of melanoma cells A375. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Nanotechnological or Innovative Formulation Approaches for Efficient Delivery of Plant Ingredients)

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17 pages, 3212 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Production and Characterization of Sumac PlantCrystals: Influence of High-Pressure Homogenization on Antioxidant Activity of Sumac (Rhus coriaria L.)

by Abraham M. Abraham, Camilo Quintero, Luis Carrillo-Hormaza, Edison Osorio and Cornelia M. Keck

Plants 2021, 10(6), 1051; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants10061051 - 23 May 2021

Cited by 5 | Viewed by 3960

Abstract

Oxidative stress diseases are usually treated or prevented by using antioxidants from natural or artificial sources. However, as a sustainable source of phytochemicals, plants got a renewed interest in obtaining their active agents using green extraction technologies, i.e., sustainable extraction techniques that reduce energy consumption, use renewable sources and result in less post-extraction wastes. The high-pressure homogenization (HPH) technique was introduced into the food industry since it was invented in 1900 to homogenize milk and later to produce fruit juices with a longer shelf-life without preservatives. Recently, HPH was introduced as an eco-friendly method to nanomill plants for improved extraction efficacy without using organic solvents. In this study, sumac was used as an antioxidants-rich spice model to investigate the effects of HPH on its antioxidant capacity (AOC). Sumac was rendered into PlantCrystals by using HPH. Particle size characterization proved the presence of submicron-sized particles (about 750 nm). Thus, HPH was able to produce sumac PlantCrystals and increased the AOC of bulk sumac by more than 650% according to the ORAC (oxygen radical absorbance capacity) assay. The polyphenol and flavonoid contents showed higher values after HPH. Interestingly, the DPPH (1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl) assay also showed a well improved AOC (similar to ascorbic acid) after HPH. In fact, in this study, the PlantCrystal-technology was demonstrated to cause an efficient cell rupture of the sumac plant cells. This caused an efficient release of antioxidants and resulted in sumac PlantCrystals with a 6.5-fold higher antioxidant capacity when compared to non-processed sumac bulk material. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Nanotechnological or Innovative Formulation Approaches for Efficient Delivery of Plant Ingredients)

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18 pages, 5281 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Date Palm Extract (Phoenix dactylifera) PEGylated Nanoemulsion: Development, Optimization and Cytotoxicity Evaluation

by Hany Ezzat Khalil, Nashi K. Alqahtani, Hossam M. Darrag, Hairul-Islam Mohamed Ibrahim, Promise M. Emeka, Lorina I. Badger-Emeka, Katsuyoshi Matsunami, Tamer M. Shehata and Heba S. Elsewedy

Plants 2021, 10(4), 735; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants10040735 - 09 Apr 2021

Cited by 30 | Viewed by 2938

Abstract

Date palm fruit (Phoenix dactylifera) is reputed to have numerous biological activities, including anticancer properties. To utilize the great fortune of this fruit, the current study aimed to maximize its pharmacological activity. Date palm extract (DPE) of Khalas cultivar was obtained in powder form and then was formulated into nanoemulsion (NE). The optimized DPE-NE was formulated along with its naked counterpart followed by studying their physical and chemical properties. A qualitative assessment of total serum protein associated with the surface of formulations was implemented. Studies for the in vitro release of DPE from developed NE before and after incubation with serum were investigated. Eventually, an MTT assay was conducted. Total phenolic and flavonoid contents were 22.89 ± 0.013 mg GAE/g of dry DPE and 9.90 ± 0.03 mg QE/g of dry DPE, respectively. Homogenous NE formulations were attained with appropriate particle size and viscosity that could be administered intravenously. The optimized PEGylated NE exhibited a proper particle size, PDI, and zeta potential. Total serum protein adsorbed on PEG-NE surface was significantly low. The release of the drug through in vitro study was effectively extended for 24 h. Ultimately; PEGylated NE of DPE attained significant inhibition for cancer cell viability with IC₅₀ values of 18.6 ± 2.4 and 13.5 ± 1.8 µg/mL for MCF-7 and HepG2 cell lines, respectively. PEGylated NE of DPE of Khalas cultivar will open the gate for future adjuvants for cancer therapy. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Nanotechnological or Innovative Formulation Approaches for Efficient Delivery of Plant Ingredients)

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24 pages, 3644 KiB

Open AccessArticle

A New Controlled Release System for Propolis Polyphenols and Its Biochemical Activity for Skin Applications

by Eleni Spanidi, Athanasios Karapetsas, Georgia-Persephoni Voulgaridou, Sophia Letsiou, Nektarios Aligiannis, Ilias Tsochantaridis, Spyridon Kynigopoulos, Maria Lambropoulou, Ioannis Mourtzinos, Aglaia Pappa and Konstantinos Gardikis

Plants 2021, 10(2), 420; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants10020420 - 23 Feb 2021

Cited by 10 | Viewed by 3696

Abstract

Propolis is a resinous substance produced by bees that exhibits antimicrobial, immunostimulatory and antioxidant activity. Its use is common in functional foods, cosmetics and traditional medicine despite the fact that it demonstrates low extraction yields and inconsistency in non-toxic solvents. In this work, a new encapsulation and delivery system consisting of liposomes and cyclodextrins incorporating propolis polyphenols has been developed and characterized. The antioxidant, antimutagenic and antiaging properties of the system under normal and UVB-induced oxidative stress conditions were investigated in cultured skin cells and/or reconstituted skin model. Furthermore, the transcript accumulation for an array of genes involved in many skin-related processes was studied. The system exhibits significant polyphenol encapsulation efficiency, physicochemical stability as well as controlled release rate in appropriate conditions. The delivery system can retain the anti-mutagenic, anti-oxidative and anti-ageing effects of propolis polyphenols to levels similar and comparable to those of propolis methanolic extracts, making the system ideal for applications where non-toxic solvents are required and controlled release of the polyphenol content is desired. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Nanotechnological or Innovative Formulation Approaches for Efficient Delivery of Plant Ingredients)

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13 pages, 3420 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Efficacy of Antimicrobial and Larvicidal Activities of Green Synthesized Silver Nanoparticles Using Leaf Extract of Plumbago auriculata Lam

by Lakshmanan Govindan, Sathiyaseelan Anbazhagan, Ammar B. Altemimi, Karthik Lakshminarayanan, Sivaranjan Kuppan, Anubhav Pratap-Singh and Murugesan Kandasamy

Plants 2020, 9(11), 1577; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants9111577 - 14 Nov 2020

Cited by 28 | Viewed by 4133

Abstract

This work reports the synthesis of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) using aqueous extract of Plumbago auriculata, and evaluates their antibacterial and larvicidal activities. The synthesized silver nanoparticles were characterized by various spectroscopy techniques, such as FTIR, XRD, TEM, EDX, Zeta potential, and DLS. The synthesized AgNPs exhibited significant antibacterial activity against Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria, such as Bacillus subtilis, Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, and Klebsiella pneumoniae. Furthermore, synthesized nanoparticles inhibited the fourth instars larvae of Aedes aegypti and Culex quinquefasciatus at the concentration of 45.1 and 41.1 µg/mL respectively. Results of dose-dependent studies showed that synthesized nanoparticles were also effective at low concentrations. Molecular docking studies performed with the salivary protein and odorant-binding protein of Aedes aegypti and Culex quinquefasciatus demonstrated that the naphthoquinone compound plumbagin exhibited reliable binding affinity towards the two enzymes. The findings thus reveal that the plant extract and its nanoparticles can be a better alternative to available chemicals to control mosquitos. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Nanotechnological or Innovative Formulation Approaches for Efficient Delivery of Plant Ingredients)

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18 pages, 1826 KiB

Open AccessReview

Phytochemicals and Nano-Phytopharmaceuticals Use in Skin, Urogenital and Locomotor Disorders: Are We There?

by Mogana Rajagopal, Alok K. Paul, Ming-Tatt Lee, Anabelle Rose Joykin, Choo-Shiuan Por, Tooba Mahboob, Cristina C. Salibay, Mario S. Torres, Maria Melanie M. Guiang, Mohammed Rahmatullah, Rownak Jahan, Khoshnur Jannat, Polrat Wilairatana, Maria de Lourdes Pereira, Chooi Ling Lim and Veeranoot Nissapatorn

Plants 2022, 11(9), 1265; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants11091265 - 08 May 2022

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 3397

Abstract

Nanomedicines emerged from nanotechnology and have been introduced to bring advancements in treating multiple diseases. Nano-phytomedicines are synthesized from active phytoconstituents or plant extracts. Advancements in nanotechnology also help in the diagnosis, monitoring, control, and prevention of various diseases. The field of nanomedicine and the improvements of nanoparticles has been of keen interest in multiple industries, including pharmaceutics, diagnostics, electronics, communications, and cosmetics. In herbal medicines, these nanoparticles have several attractive properties that have brought them to the forefront in searching for novel drug delivery systems by enhancing efficacy, bioavailability, and target specificity. The current review investigated various therapeutic applications of different nano-phytopharmaceuticals in locomotor, dermal, reproductive, and urinary tract disorders to enhance bioavailability and efficacy of phytochemicals and herbal extracts in preclinical and in vitro studies. There is a lack of clinical and extensive preclinical studies. The research in this field is expanding but strong evidence on the efficacy of these nano-phytopharmaceuticals for human use is still limited. The long-term efficacy and safety of nano-phytopharmaceuticals must be ensured with priority before these materials emerge as common human therapeutics. Overall, this review provides up-to-date information on related contemporary research on nano-phytopharmaceuticals and nano-extracts in the fields of dermatological, urogenital, and locomotor disorders. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Nanotechnological or Innovative Formulation Approaches for Efficient Delivery of Plant Ingredients)

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56 pages, 2374 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceReview

Innovative Delivery Systems Loaded with Plant Bioactive Ingredients: Formulation Approaches and Applications

by Anastasia Kyriakoudi, Eleni Spanidi, Ioannis Mourtzinos and Konstantinos Gardikis

Plants 2021, 10(6), 1238; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants10061238 - 18 Jun 2021

Cited by 32 | Viewed by 5965

Abstract

Plants constitute a rich source of diverse classes of valuable phytochemicals (e.g., phenolic acids, flavonoids, carotenoids, alkaloids) with proven biological activity (e.g., antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, etc.). However, factors such as low stability, poor solubility and bioavailability limit their food, cosmetics and pharmaceutical applications. In this regard, a wide range of delivery systems have been developed to increase the stability of plant-derived bioactive compounds upon processing, storage or under gastrointestinal digestion conditions, to enhance their solubility, to mask undesirable flavors as well as to efficiently deliver them to the target tissues where they can exert their biological activity and promote human health. In the present review, the latest advances regarding the design of innovative delivery systems for pure plant bioactive compounds, extracts or essential oils, in order to overcome the above-mentioned challenges, are presented. Moreover, a broad spectrum of applications along with future trends are critically discussed. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Nanotechnological or Innovative Formulation Approaches for Efficient Delivery of Plant Ingredients)

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