Abstract
The green synthesis of metal nanoparticles is growing dramatically; however, the toxicity of these biosynthesized particles against living organisms is not fully explored. Therefore, this study was designed to synthesize and characterize TiO2-NPs, encapsulation and characterization thyme essential oil (ETEO), and determination of the bioactive constituents of ETEO using GC-MS and evaluate their protective role against TiO2-NPs-induced oxidative damage and genotoxicity in rats. Six groups of rats were treated orally for 30 days including the control group, TiO2-NPs (300 mg/kg b.w)-treated group, ETEO at low (50 mg/kg b.w) or high dose (100 mg/kg b.w)-treated groups, and TiO2-NPs plus ETEO at the two doses-treated groups. Blood and tissues were collected for different assays. The GC-MS results indicated the presence of 21 compounds belonging to phenols, terpene derivatives, and heterocyclic compounds. The synthesized TiO2-NPs were 45 nm tetragonal particles with a zeta potential of -27.34 mV; however, ETEO were 119 nm round particles with a zeta potential of -28.33 mV. TiO2-NPs administration disturbs the liver and kidney markers, lipid profile, cytokines, oxidative stress parameters, the apoptotic and antioxidant hepatic mRNA expression, and induced histological alterations in the liver and kidney tissues. ETEO could improve all these parameters in a dose-dependent manner. It could be concluded that ETEO is a promising candidate for the protection against TiO2-NPs and can be applied safely in food applications.
Highlights
IntroductionNanotechnology has developed rapidly in different sectors to improve human life leading to the production of several nanomaterials which developed and extensively used in various fields including industry, food, medicine (Li et al 2018; Sycheva et al 2011; Wang et al 2016; Zahin et al 2020), personal health care (Sanders et al 2012; Khosravi et al 2012) toothpastes (Li et al 2012), food packaging (Jovanović and Palić 2012; Philbrook et al 2011) and antimicrobial agents (Martínez-Gutierrez et al 2012)
The current results showed that 21 compounds were identified in Thyme essential oil (TEO) represented 130.85 mg/g oil and belong to phenols, terpene, and terpene derivatives class
The results revealed that the encapsulation of TEEO using whey protein isolate (WPI) resulted in round particles with an average size of 110 nm and a zeta potential of -28.33 mV
Summary
Nanotechnology has developed rapidly in different sectors to improve human life leading to the production of several nanomaterials which developed and extensively used in various fields including industry, food, medicine (Li et al 2018; Sycheva et al 2011; Wang et al 2016; Zahin et al 2020), personal health care (Sanders et al 2012; Khosravi et al 2012) toothpastes (Li et al 2012), food packaging (Jovanović and Palić 2012; Philbrook et al 2011) and antimicrobial agents (Martínez-Gutierrez et al 2012). Inhalation of TiO2-NPs in mice leads to accumulate these NPs in the hepatic and cardiac tissue and transfer to the circulation after 24 h (Husain et al 2015). TiO2-NPs accumulate in different organs mainly the liver, heart, brain and lung inducing damage and inflammation to these organs (Geraets et al 2014; Kandeil et al 2020). The abdominal injection of mice with TiO2-NPs accumulates these particles in different organs and induces severe damage to the liver, heart and kidneys and affects the serum lipids and sugar (Liu et al 2009). TiO2-NPs activate the inflammatory processes and complement cascade in the heart and innate the immune responses mediated by the complement factor 3 in the blood. In the liver, these particles alter the gene expression especially that related to the acute phase response (Husain et al 2015)
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Free) 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
