Licochalcone A-loaded solid lipid nanoparticles improve antischistosomal activity in vitro and in vivo.
Lívia Mara SilvaDanielle Gomes MarconatoMarcos Paulo Nascimento da SilvaNádia Rezende Barbosa RaposoGabriela de Faria Silva FacchiniGilson Costa MacedoFernanda de Sá TeixeiraMaria Cecília Barbosa da Silveira SalvadoriPriscila de Faria PintoJosué de MoraesFrederico PittellaAdemar Alves Da Silva FilhoPublished in: Nanomedicine (London, England) (2021)
Aim: To isolate licochalcone A (LicoA) from licorice, prepare LicoA-loaded solid lipid nanoparticles (L-SLNs) and evaluate the L-SLNs in vitro and in vivo against Schistosoma mansoni. Materials & methods: LicoA was obtained by chromatographic fractionation and encapsulated in SLNs by a modified high shear homogenization method. Results: L-SLNs showed high encapsulation efficiency, with satisfactory particle size, polydispersity index and Zeta potential. Transmission electron microscopy revealed that L-SLNs were rounded and homogenously distributed. Toxicity studies revealed that SLNs decreased the hemolytic and cytotoxic properties of LicoA. Treatment with L-SLNs showed in vivo efficacy against S. mansoni. Conclusion: L-SLNs are efficient in reducing worm burden and SLNs may be a promising delivery system for LicoA to treat S. mansoni infections.