The anti-toxic effect of the date palm fruit extract loaded on chitosan nanoparticles against CCl4-induced liver fibrosis in a mouse model.

The liver is the most important organ in the body. Hepatocyte oxidative damage occurs to excess ROS. Liver fibrosis is a mechanism that the immune system uses to treat extreme inflammation by repairing damaged tissue with the creation of a scar. The outcome of fibrosis may be reversed by consuming natural plant extracts with high ROS-scavenging ability. The date palm fruits contain caffeic acid, gallic acid, syringic acid, and ferulic acid, which have anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and hepatoprotective properties. This study aimed to prepare a date fruit extract, load it onto chitosan nanoparticles, and compare its anti-fibrotic activity with the unloaded crude extract in the CCl4-mouse model. Our findings show that nanocomposite (Cs@FA/DEx) has anti-fibrotic properties and can improve liver function enzymes and endogenous antioxidant enzymes by inhibiting cell apoptosis caused by CCl4-induction in mice. Furthermore, significantly reduced CD95 and ICAM1 levels and down-regulation of TGFß-1 and collagen-α-1 expression demonstrated the anti-fibrotic effects of the Cs@FA/DEx. Therefore, the Cs@FA/DEx might be an innovative supplement for inhibiting liver fibrosis and hepatocyte inflammation induced by chemical toxins. Besides, this nano-supplement could be a promising anti-hepatocellular carcinoma agent as it has potent in vitro anticancer activity against the HePG2 cell line.

Avocado peel extract loaded on chitosan nanoparticles alleviates urethane toxicity that causes lung cancer in a mouse model.

Lung cancer progresses without obvious symptoms and is detected in most patients at late stages, causing a high rate of mortality. Avocado peels (AVP) were thought to be biowaste, but they have antioxidant and anticancer properties in vitro. Chitosan nanoparticles (Cs-NPs) were loaded with various plant extracts, increasing their in vitro and in vivo anticancer activities. Our goal was to load AVP onto Cs-NPs and determine the role of AVP-extract or AVP-loaded Cs-NPs in controlling the progression of lung cancer caused by urethane toxicity. The AVP-loaded chitosan nano-combination (Cs@AVP NC) was synthesized and characterized. Our in vitro results show that Cs@AVP NC has higher anticancer activity than AVP against three human cancer cell lines. The in vivo study proved the activation of apoptosis in lung cancer cells with the Cs@AVP NC oral treatment more than the AVP treatment. Additionally, Cs@AVP NC-treated animals showed significantly higher p53 and Bax-expression levels and lower NF-κB p65 levels in their lung tissues than in positive control animals. In conclusion, our study demonstrated the superior anticancer potency of Cs@AVP NC over AVP extract and its ability to inhibit lung cancer proliferation. Therefore, oral consumption of Cs@AVP NC might be a promising treatment for lung cancer.