NANOCHARACTERIZATION AND HEME-OXYGENASE 1 INDUCTION BY A NOVEL NANOFORMULATED BOTANICAL

Abstract

Plants naturally synthesize nanoparticles to transport cellular materials that contain potential active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs). Curcuminoids (e.g. curcumin) are the most abundant APIs in turmeric spice (from the Curcuma Longa plant), a traditional medicine with anti-oxidative/anti-inflammatory effects. Numerous chronic diseases largely feature oxidative stress and excess inflammation at the level of the macrophage. Curcumin is GRAS by the FDA but has poor stability, solubility and bioavailability. Nano-encapsulation of curcumin can improve its stability, solubility and bioavailability to elicit meaningful pharmacological effects. PVDL-005 (nanoparticles of curcumin) were spherical in shape, with a size and surface charge of 177 nm and -0.189 mV, respectively. PVDL-005 [5μM]eq induced 2-fold more heme-oxygenase-1 (HMOX1) than 5[μM] pure curcumin in THP-1 human macrophages. PVDL-005 was internalized more (i.e., vs curcumin) by macrophages and localized in the cytoplasm and nucleus. Our data suggests that administration of curcumin/PVDL-005 in the presence H2O2 does not confer cytoprotection in vitro