Loading of apigenin extracted from parsley leaves on colloidal core-shell nanocomposite for bioavailability enhancement

Abstract

Apigenin, as a bioactive compound, exhibits a wide range of health beneficial properties; however, its therapeutic application is limited because of its poor water-solubility and low bioavailability. In the present study, apigenin was isolated and purified from parsley leaves and to enhance its bioavailability, it was loaded on the zein-lecithin nanocomposite, which was fabricated by the antisolvent coprecipitation method. The developed nanocomposite was characterized by DLS, zeta-potential, FTIR, XRD, FE-SEM, and TEM analyses. Under optimum apigenin formulation condition (pH 4, zein:lecithin mass ratio of 1:5 and apigenin dosage of 1.5 mg) the mean particle size, PDI and zeta-potential of the nanocomposite were 132.4 nm, 0.16 and −31.9 mV, while the apigenin loading and encapsulation efficiency were 4.7% and 77.4%, respectively. The developed spherical zein-lecithin nanocomposite had higher apigenin encapsulation efficiency compared to the single nanoparticles of zein and lecithin, and the stability of apigenin significantly improved against sunlight irradiation. Results showed that the synthesized nanocomposite was pH-sensitive where 87% of the encapsulated apigenin could be released from the nanocomposite under acidic pH. Loading of apigenin into the zein-lecithin nanocomposite promoted the cytotoxic effects of apigenin against Saos2 cell lines up to 75.77% in vitro, while no significant side effect on normal fibroblast cells was observed. • Apigenin (Ap) was obtained by purifying ultrasonic extract of parsley leaves. • We developed Ap/zein-lecithin nanocomposite by antisolvent coprecipitation. • Loading of AP on nanocomposite enhanced its photostability. • Ap/Z-L was pH-sensitive and considerable amount of Ap released under acidic pH. • Significant cytotoxicity against Saos2 cell lines was demonstrated.