Encapsulation of Polyphenols from Lycium barbarum Leaves into Liposomes as a Strategy to Improve Their Delivery.

Ramona-Daniela Păvăloiu,Cristina Hlevca,Georgeta Neagu,Mousa Sha’At,Mihaela Deaconu,Fawzia Sha’At,Adrian Albulescu,Corina Bubueanu

doi:10.3390/nano11081938

Abstract

This study is focused on the encapsulation of polyphenols from Lycium barbarum leaves into liposomes as a strategy to improve their delivery. Liposomes loaded with Lycium barbarum leaves extract were obtained and characterized for particle size, polydispersity, entrapment efficiency, and stability. Liposomes presented entrapment efficiency higher than 75%, nanometric particle size, narrow polydispersity, and good stability over three months at 4 °C. The liposomes containing Lycium barbarum offered a slower release of polyphenols with attenuated burst effect compared with the dissolution of free Lycium barbarum extract in phosphate buffer solution at pH 7.4. Moreover, an in vitro pretreatment of 24 h with loaded liposomes showed a cytoprotective effect against H2O2-induced cytotoxicity on L-929 mouse fibroblasts cells. These preliminary findings imply that liposomes could be successfully employed as carriers for polyphenols in pharmaceutical applications.

Highlights

Those described in the above-mentioned studies [33,34], and plant material used in this paper were harvested from different counties of Romania, Europe
Data showed the presence of chlorogenic, caffeic, rosmarinic, and gallic acids; total polyphenols content of 18.30 ± 0.011 milligram gallic acid equivalents (mg GAE)/g plant material; and significant
Data showed the presence of chlorogenic, caffeic, rosmarinic, and gallic acids; total polyphenols content of 18.30 ± 0.011 mg GAE/g plant material; and significant antioxidant activity (EC50 = 11.33 ± 0.056 μg/mL)

Summary

Introduction

A large part of the studies on L. barbarum have mainly focused on plant fruit (Goji berries), used as a food product [2]. Medicinal research has shown that L. barbarum extract (leaves and fruit) has immune-modulator, antioxidant, anti-aging, anticancer, hypotensive, and hypoglycemic properties. All these beneficial effects are dependent on the content of polyphenols, polysaccharides, flavonoids, carotenoids, nitrogen-containing compounds, and other constituents, which are used to promote good health [3,4]. The compounds from L. barbarum extract have certain limitations such as poor solubility, toxicity, and degradation in a gastrointestinal medium, which can lead to a low level of plasma concentrations of compounds and an inefficient therapeutic effect

Methods

Results

Conclusion