Zinc oxide nanoparticles loaded with linalool as a potential control agent of malaria infection

• Published in: Acta tropica Vol. 257; p. 107312
• Main Authors: Alkhaibari, Abeer Mousa, Albalawi, Aishah E, Shater, Abdullah F, Almohammed, Hamdan I, Alnomasy, Sultan F., Alanazi, Abdullah D
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Netherlands Elsevier B.V 01.09.2024
• Subjects: Acyclic Monoterpenes - pharmacology; Animals; Antimalarials - administration & dosage; Antimalarials - pharmacology; Antioxidants - administration & dosage; Antioxidants - pharmacology; Cytokines - metabolism; Disease Models, Animal; Drug Carriers - chemistry; In vitro; In vivo; Malaria - drug therapy; Male; Mice; Monoterpenes - administration & dosage; Monoterpenes - chemistry; Monoterpenes - pharmacology; Nanomedicine; Nanoparticles - chemistry; Oxidative Stress - drug effects; Plasmodium; Plasmodium berghei - drug effects; Plasmodium falciparum - drug effects; Treatment; Zinc Oxide - administration & dosage; Zinc Oxide - chemistry; Zinc Oxide - pharmacology; Plasmodium; In vivo; Treatment; Nanomedicine; In vitro
• ISSN: 0001-706X; 1873-6254; 1873-6254
• DOI: 10.1016/j.actatropica.2024.107312

•LZNPs demonstrated antiplasmodial activity against susceptible and resistant P. falciparum.•LZNPs increased the survival rates and parasite growth suppression in mice.•LZNPs demonstrated a significant (p < 0.001) decreased in oxidative stress markers,.•LZNPs increased the expression level of antioxidant genes.•LZNPs reduced the gene and protein expression level of inflammatory cytokines. This research aimed to produce and analyze zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZNPs) loaded with linalool (LZNPs), and to evaluate their in vitro and in vivo efficacy through targeting the inflammation and oxidative stress. LZNPs were synthesized using an ethanolic solution of polyvinyl alcohol. The Malstat technique was used to evaluate the effectiveness of LZNPs against both sensitive and resistant strains of Plasmosium falciparum. In vivo effects of ZNPs and LZNPs on parasite growth suppression, survival rate, oxidative stress markers, antioxidant genes, and gene and protein levels of inflammatory cytokines were evaluated by Real-time PCR and Western blot techniques. The results indicated that LZNPs demonstrated noteworthy (P < 0.001) antiplasmodial activity against both susceptible and resistant strains of P. falciparum. P. berghei NK65 strain-infected mice treated with the ZNPs and LZNPs at doses of 5–15 mg/kg notably (p < 0.001) increased the survival rates and parasite growth suppression. LZNPs at 5–15 mg/kg demonstrated a significant (p < 0.001) decrease in oxidative stress markers, increased the expression level of antioxidant genes, and reduced the gene and protein expression level of inflammatory cytokines. The current experimental study demonstrated the potent in vitro antiplasmodial activity of LZNPs against chloroquine-resistant and sensitive strains of P. falciparum compared to ZNPs alone. Additionally, the study identified the potential benefits of this nanocomposite in suppressing the parasite and extending the survival rate in mice infected with P. berghei by targeting inflammation and oxidative stress. It also showed minimal toxicity in liver and kidney function in healthy mice. Nevertheless, further research is essential to elucidate the comprehensive mechanisms and practical effectiveness of LZNPs.