Green formulation and characterization of Camellia azalea synthesized copper nanoparticles and its application in the treatment of ovalbumin-induced allergic conjunctivitis

Abstract

Camellia azalea can treat many stubborn and malignant diseases, according to traditional Chinese medicine. In addition, it has been indicated that copper nanoparticles containing the plant have many therapeutic effects. Recently, metallic nanoparticles have been used due to the antioxidant and anti-inflammatory potentials. Present research discloses the CuNPs biosynthesizing capability of the leaves of pharmacologically important Camellia azalea. For determining the physicochemical properties of the recent nanoparticles, FE-SEM, FT-IR, TEM and UV-Vis were used. This study therefore assessed the antiallergic potential of copper nanoparticles in ovalbumin-induced allergic conjunctivitis and attempted to predict its action mode. ELISA test was applied to measure the serum ovalbumin-specific IgG and IgE and total IgE. Clinical scores for allergic conjunctivitis induced by intraperitoneal ovalbumin sensitization and topical conjunctival challenge in Dunkin-Hartley guinea pigs were determined after a week’s daily treatment with 10 mg kg−1 chlorpheniramine, 30 mg kg−1 prednisolone, 15 and 80 µg kg−1 copper nanoparticles, or 10 mL kg−1 PBS. The 15 and 60 mg kg−1 copper nanoparticles treatment resulted in a significantly (p < 0.01) low clinical score of allergic conjunctivitis. Ovalbumin-specific IgG and IgE as well as total serum IgE also decreased significantly (p < 0.01). The conjunctival tissue in copper nanoparticles treated guinea pigs had mild mononuclear infiltration compared to the PBS-treated ones, which had intense conjunctival tissue inflammatory infiltration.