Enhanced immune responses in dexamethasone immunosuppressed male rats supplemented with herbal extracts, chitosan nanoparticles, and their conjugates
Nowadays, the world is challenged with highly contagious diseases, one of their preliminary virulence mechanisms is the suppression of innate immunity. Therefore, promoting natural immunity is a good precautionary strategy. we investigated and compared the effects of several natural herbal extracts...
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| Published in: | International journal of biological macromolecules Vol. 250; p. 126170 |
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| Main Authors: | , , , , , , |
| Format: | Journal Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Netherlands
Elsevier B.V
01-10-2023
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| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | Get full text |
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| Summary: | Nowadays, the world is challenged with highly contagious diseases, one of their preliminary virulence mechanisms is the suppression of innate immunity. Therefore, promoting natural immunity is a good precautionary strategy. we investigated and compared the effects of several natural herbal extracts -Moringa oleifera, Ziziphus spina christi, and Saussurea costus, and chitosan nanoparticles (CS NPs)- as well as conjugated extracts with CS NPs on the immunological parameters of dexamethasone immunosuppressed (IS) male rats. The plant extracts were assessed for total flavonoids, phenolics, and antioxidant activity. The CS NPs and their conjugates were characterized using particles size, zeta potentials, and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy analyses. The chemical analysis of the plant extracts, CS NPs, and their conjugates was performed using energy dispersive X-ray fluorescence, and their cytotoxicity was evaluated in human lung fibroblast (WI-38) and human embryonic kidney (HEK-293) cell lines. For in vivo evaluations, 72 adult male rats were divided into 9 groups: control, IS, three plant extracts, CS, and conjugates of the three plant extracts and CS NPs. Oral supplementation (day after day) lasted for 28 days. Liver, kidney, and spleen tissue samples were collected for histopathology and Ki-67 expression analyses. The results revealed that the plant extracts and CS improved the total leukocyte counts, complement 3, complement 4, interferon-gamma, and tumor necrosis factor levels at day 28. However, the plant extract-CS NPs conjugates faster and have higher immunostimulatory effects at day 14. Furthermore, the atrophied white pulp of the spleen induced by dexamethasone was alleviated, and Ki-67 expression was elevated in all the treated groups. Conclusively, the conjugates of Moringa oleifera, Ziziphus spina christi, and Saussurea costus extract with CS NPs demonstrated more potent and rapid immune responses at lower doses and concentrations compared to the plant extracts or CS NPs alone, without causing liver or kidney injuries. Thus, supplementation of these conjugated plant extracts at lower doses and concentrations is recommended to improve immunity while considering safety considerations.
•Conjugated plant extract (CPE) is a promising immunomodulatory agent.•CPE exhibits a higher effect in a short time in comparison to plant extracts alone.•CPE exhibits a higher effect by using lower doses in comparison to plant extracts.•CPE supplementation is very important in urgent cases to improve immunity rapidly. |
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| Bibliography: | ObjectType-Article-1 SourceType-Scholarly Journals-1 ObjectType-Feature-2 content type line 23 |
| ISSN: | 0141-8130 1879-0003 |
| DOI: | 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2023.126170 |