Prunus spinosa Extract Loaded in Biomimetic Nanoparticles Evokes In Vitro Anti-Inflammatory and Wound Healing Activities

Abstract

Prunus spinosa fruits (PSF) contain different phenolic compounds showing antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities. Innovative drug delivery systems such as biomimetic nanoparticles could improve the activity of PSF extract by promoting (i) the protection of payload into the lipidic bilayer, (ii) increased accumulation to the diseased tissue due to specific targeting properties, (iii) improved biocompatibility, (iv) low toxicity and increased bioavailability. Using membrane proteins extracted from human monocyte cell line THP-1 cells and a mixture of phospholipids, we formulated two types of PSF-extract-loaded biomimetic vesicles differing from each other for the presence of either 1,2-dioleoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine (DOPC) or 1,2-dioleoyl-sn-glycero-3-phospho-(1′-rac-glycerol) (DOPG). The biological activity of free extract (PSF), compared to both types of extract-loaded vesicles (PSF-DOPCs and PSF-DOPGs) and empty vesicles (DOPCs and DOPGs), was evaluated in vitro on HUVEC cells. PSF-DOPCs showed preferential incorporation of the extract. When enriched into the nanovesicles, the extract showed a significantly increased anti-inflammatory activity, and a pronounced wound-healing effect (with PSF-DOPCs more efficient than PSF-DOPGs) compared to free PSF. This innovative drug delivery system, combining nutraceutical active ingredients into a biomimetic formulation, represents a possible adjuvant therapy for the treatment of wound healing. This nanoplatform could be useful for the encapsulation/enrichment of other nutraceutical products with short stability and low bioavailability.

Polyphenol-Enriched Extracts of Prunus spinosa Fruits: Anti-Inflammatory and Antioxidant Effects in Human Immune Cells Ex Vivo in Relation to Phytochemical Profile

“…Recently, we have reported that polyphenols of P. spinosa flowers are able to effectively scavenge several other in vivo-relevant ROS, such as O 2 •− , ONOO − , HO • and HClO [ 41 ]. On the other hand, Sabatini et al [ 24 ] and Tiboni et al [ 25 ] have demonstrated that the ethanol extracts from sloes decrease the expression of interleukin-1 receptor-associated kinase (IRAK-1) in stimulated U937 cells, which plays a crucial role in regulating signalling cascades and NF-κB activation. In the present study, we observed that the sloe extracts significantly diminished the release of TNF- α from both neutrophils and PBMCs.…”

“…The previous research on the biological activity of P. spinosa fruits has focused mainly on their antioxidant potential [ 11 , 14 , 21 , 22 ], with some data available on the antidiabetic, antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory and anticancer activity [ 15 , 17 , 23 , 24 , 25 ]. The accumulated results suggest the high value of blackthorn fruits as health-promoting food and source material for the production of functional supplements, but further research is required to characterise the underlying mechanisms, which might be relevant to their in vivo effects.…”

“…Several previous studies suggested that some technological treatments, such as fractionation [ 26 ] or loading in nanoparticles [ 25 ], might increase the anti-inflammatory effects of crude extracts from different fruits. In addition, fractionation might also improve the effectiveness of phytochemical profiling of the fruit extracts and studies on the contribution of particular compounds to their anti-inflammatory and antioxidant activity [ 26 ].…”

Nanoparticles in Clinical Translation for Cancer Therapy

“…A recent article cited the use of Prunus spinosa fruits (PSF) containing different phenolic compounds as biomimetic nanoparticles that could improve the activity of the extract where the payload is directed into the lipid bilayer with increased accumulation at the diseased tissue (showing enhanced specific targeting properties). Improved biocompatibility, as well as a low toxicity, was observed when the nanoparticle was evaluated on HUVEC cells suggesting a unique platform for encapsulation of drugs that have minimal stability and bioavailability [110].…”

Role of Natural Antioxidant Products in Colorectal Cancer Disease: A Focus on a Natural Compound Derived from Prunus spinosa, Trigno Ecotype

“…To improve biocompatibility and increase tissue accumulation, Prunus spinosa extract has also been loaded into biomimetic nanoparticles. These formulations have been shown to have a greater anti-inflammatory, antioxidant activities and a more wound-healing effect compared to free formulation [ 63 ].…”