Anti-arthritic effects of geranium essential oil loaded chitosan nanoparticles in Freund ’s complete adjuvant induced arthritic rats through down-regulation of inflammatory cytokines

AbstractGeranium essential oil (GEO) has been widely used in aromatherapy and traditional medicines. Nanoencapsulation, a novel technique has emerged to overcome the environmental degradation and less oral bioavailability of essential oils. This work was undertaken to encapsulate geranium essential oil in chitosan nanoparticles (GEO-CNPs) by ionic gelation technique and to explore anti-arthritic and anti-inflammatory potential in FCA-induced arthritic model in rats. The GEO was characterized by gas chromatography flame ionization detector (GCFID) and the nanosuspension was characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and X-rays diffraction (XRD). The Wistar albino rats (n = 32) were separated into four groups; Group 1 and 2 were considered as normal and arthritic controls. Group 3 was positive control that received oral celecoxib for 21 days while Group 4 was treated with oral GEO-CNPs after the induction of arthritis. Hind paw ankle joints diameters were weekl y measured throughout the study and significant decrease (5.5 ± 0.5 mm) was observed in GEO-CNPs treatment group in comparison to arthritic group (9.17 ± 0.52 mm). Blood samples were drawn at end for evaluation of hematological, biochemical and inflammatory biomarkers. A significant upre gulation of red blood cells and hemoglobin while downregulation of white blood cells, interleukin-6 (IL-6), tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), C-reactive protei...
Source: Inflammopharmacology - Category: Drugs & Pharmacology Source Type: research