Nonionic surfactant based thymoquinone loaded nanoproniosomal formulation: in vitro physicochemical evaluation and in vivo hepatoprotective efficacy

Abstract

Context: The present study was carried out to formulate thymoquinone proniosomal formulation (TQP) and evaluate their efficacy in methotrexate (Mtx) induced hepatotoxicity in rats.

Objective: The objective of the study was to explore a new therapeutic approach focusing on hepatoprotective activity using thymoquinone proniosomal formulation.

Material and methods: TQP was formulated using span60, cholesterol and phospholipid by film hydration technique. The animals were divided into six groups with five animals each receiving different treatments for 7 days. On the 8th day, rats were anesthetized with ether, blood samples were withdrawn, livers were dissected out for biochemical tests and histopathological examinations.

Results and discussion: The size of vesicle was found to be in the nanometric range with higher entrapment efficiency. The high entrapment efficiency is probably due to the lipophilic character of TQ. The morphological structure showed the outline and core of the well-identified spherical vesicle, and also displaying the retention of sealed vesicular structure. The release of TQ from developed formulation was found to be significantly higher compared to control. Mtx treated rats showed significant elevation in ALT, AST, ALP and TBARs, whereas, TQP treated group showed significant reduction.

Conclusion: The developed formulation (TQP) significantly inhibited the elevated levels of serum marker enzymes and showed improved histopathological deformities.

Keywords:

• Thymoquinone
• proniosomes
• methotrexate
• hepatotoxicity
• oxidative stress

Disclosure statement

We wish to confirm that there are no known conflicts of interest associated with this publication and there has been no significant financial support for this work that could have influenced its outcome.