Poly (lactide-co-glycolide) nano-encapsulation of chelidonine, an active bioingredient of greater celandine (Chelidonium majus), enhances its ameliorative potential against cadmium induced oxidative stress and hepatic injury in mice

•Chelidonine, ingredient of Chelidonium majus extract, nano-encapsulated with PLGA.•Characterization of nano-chelidonine shows it to be a suitable drug carrier.•Nano-chelidonine exhibits better bio-distribution profile in liver tissue of mice.•Nano-chelidonine reduces cadmium induced oxidative stress better than chelidonine.•Signalling pathways and toxicity biomarkers for action of both drugs elucidated.

This study evaluates the possible protective potentials of chelidonine and its poly lactide-co-glycolide (PLGA) encapsulated nano-form against cadmium chloride (CdCl2) induced oxidative stress and hepatotoxicity in mice, ex vivo and in vivo. Acute exposure to CdCl2 (1.0 mg/kg b.w; i.p., twice a week for 30 days) generated oxidative stress in mice through accumulation of reactive oxygen species and increased lipid peroxidation, and levels of certain liver marker enzymes (ALT, AST, ALP) with decrease in levels of GSH and certain other antioxidant enzymes (SOD, CAT, GR) in liver. Treatment with nano-chelidonine for 30 days after CdCl2 intoxication significantly reduced oxidative stress and lipid peroxidation and restored levels of GSH, cholesterol, triglyceride and antioxidant enzymes, showing ameliorative changes in histopathology of liver. Expression pattern of certain inflammatory and apoptotic signal proteins also indicated better hepato-protective abilities of nano-chelidonine, making it a more suitable protective drug than chelidonine against cadmium toxicity in mice.

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