Upgrading the therapeutic potential of catechin against Ehrlich carcinoma and mitigating oxidative stress in the liver employing chitosan polyaspartate as nanodelivery vehicles

Abstract

This study aims to design and develop new chitosan polyaspartate nanovehicles (CPANVs) to enhance the targeting delivery and bioavailability of catechin (CAT). Thus, augmenting its anticancer efficacy against Ehrlich ascites carcinoma (EAC) in the peritoneal cavities of Swiss albino mice and without impairing the liver or its functions. Initially, CAT@CPANVs were synthesized through double emulsification followed by ionotropic gelation processes, and the physicochemical and morphological characteristics of this nanoformulation were investigated. Thereafter, the in vivo studies were performed on four equally divided groups of sixty Swiss albino female mice: control (G1), drug group (G2, CAT@CPANVs-treated), positive control (G3, EAC-bearing), and therapeutic (G4, EACs plus CAT@CPANVs). Noteworthy, EAC-bearing mice treated with CAT@CPANVs showed reduced levels of S100A14, Angptl-2, AST, ALT, cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol, triglyceride, MDA, TNF-α, and caspase 3 and elevated levels of GSH, CAT, superoxide dismutase (SOD), albumin, total protein, and Bcl2. These findings indicate that CPANVs exhibit chemotherapeutic and chemopreventive actions with remarkable capabilities to reduce the viability and volume of EACs. Additionally, biochemical, immunohistochemical, and histological investigations showed that CAT@CPANVs can enhance liver tissue by maintaining redox balance and minimizing oxidative stress.