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Background: Oleogels represent one of the most important carriers for the delivery of lipophilic nutraceuticals. Phytosterols (PS), plant-derived natural sterol compounds, are preferred for oleogel preparation due to their self-assembly properties and health function. However, the relationship between the physical properties of PS-based oleogels and the chemical stability of loaded bioactive compounds is still unclear., Results: The influence of lecithin (LC) and glycerol monostearate (GMS) on the physical properties of PS-based oleogels made of liquid coconut oil and the stability of curcumin as a model bioactive loaded in the oleogels was investigated. Results showed that the flow consistency index was much higher for GMS-containing oleogels than that for LC-containing oleogels. The optical microscopy and X-ray scattering analysis showed that the addition of GMS in the PS oleogels promoted the formation of a crystal mixture with different crystal polymorph structures, whereas LC addition promoted the formation of needle-like crystals of PS. Using curcumin as a model lipophilic nutraceutical, the GMS-enriched PS oleogels with high crystallinity and flow consistency index exhibited a good retention ratio and scavenging activity of the loaded curcumin when stored at room temperature., Conclusion: This study shows that enhancing the firmness of oleogels made from PS and liquid coconut oil is beneficial to the retention and chemical stability of a loaded bioactive (curcumin). The findings of the study will boost the development of PS-based oleogel formulations for lipophilic nutraceutical delivery. © 2022 Society of Chemical Industry., (© 2022 Society of Chemical Industry.)

In this work, a biologically active curcumin molecule is used as an antibacterial agent, and the insertion of this naturally occurring biomolecule into the backbone of water-dispersible polyurethane has been successfully achieved to synthesize bio-based antibacterial textile finishes. These curcumin-based water-dispersible polyurethane (CUR-WDPU) dispersions were prepared by utilizing isophorone diisocyanate (IPDI), polyethylene glycol (PEG), dimethylolpropionic acid (DMPA) and triethylamine (TEA) following the prepolymer mixing process by incorporating variable molar quantities of curcumin (CUR). Structure elucidation of synthesized CUR-WDPU dispersions was obtained through Fourier transformed infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) which confirmed the insertion of CUR into the WDPU backbone. Using the pad-dry-cure procedure, the varying varieties of plain weave polyester/cotton blended dyed and printed textile samples were treated with synthesized CUR-WDPU finishes. The antibacterial activities of these treated textiles have been assessed, and the outcomes revealed that the insertion of curcumin into the PU polymer chain has significantly boosted the antibacterial activities of PU dispersions. These newly prepared CUR-WDPUs dispersions are proved to be eco-friendly antimicrobial finishes because these are containing natural bioactive agents such as curcumin, showing potential antibacterial applications on polyester/cotton textiles. Predominantly, this research work is an attempt toward the greener approach of novel bio-based finishing materials preferably useful for textile diligences. Future investigations of these finishes will explore the other textile assets of poly-cotton textiles without adversely influencing their color fastness and mechanical properties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Curcumin, the active component of Curcuma longa L. (Zingiberaceae), exhibits a wide variety of biological activities including vasodilation and anti-inflammation. The relaxant effect of curcumin in tracheal smooth muscle (TSM) was not examined so far, thus, this study was designed to assess the relaxant effect of curcumin on rat TSM and examine the underlying mechanism(s) responsible for this effect. TSM was contracted by KCl (60 mM) or methacholine (10 μM), and cumulative concentrations of curcumin (12.5, 25, 50, and 100 mg/mL) or theophylline (0.2, 0.4, 0.6, and 0.8 mM, as positive control) were added to organ bath. The relaxant effect of curcumin was examined in non-incubated or incubated tissues with atropine (1 μM), chlorpheniramine (1 μM), indomethacin (1 μM), and papaverine (100 μM). In non-incubated TSM, curcumin showed significant relaxant effects on KCl-induced contraction in a concentration-dependent manner (p < 0.001 for all concentrations). The relaxant effects of curcumin 12.5, 25, and 50 mg/mL were significantly lower in atropine-incubated tissue compared to non-incubated TSM (p < 0.05 to p < 0.001). A significant difference was observed in EC50 between atropine-incubated (48.10 ± 2.55) and non-incubated (41.65 ± 1.81) tissues (p < 0.05). Theophylline showed a significant relaxant effect on both KCl and methacholine-induced contraction in a concentration-dependent manner (p < 0.001 for all cases). The results indicated a relatively potent relaxant effect of curcumin on TSM, which was less marked than the effect of theophylline. Calcium channel blocking and/or potassium channel opening properties of curcumin may be responsible for TSM relaxation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The solubility of curcumin in the pure water subcritical and water–ethanol solution (water + (5–10) % (v/v) ethanol) subcritical is investigated for the first time. The design approach taken from this study is the response surface methodology due to the Box Behnken. The experiments were performed in the temperature range of (90–150) °C, (0–10) volumetric percent of ethanol and the flow rate of (0.2–0.8) ml/min. As the pressure effect is ignored in the subcritical conditions, the pressure is constant in 2 MP in the experiments. All analyses were carried out employing the high-performance liquid chromatography apparatus. The curcumin solubility data were correlated with the dielectric constant of solvent mixture. Curcumin solubility modeling in subcritical conditions was done due to cubic-plus-association equation of state. The present study indicated that the rise in temperature and ethanol percentage cause an increase in curcumin solubility. Other important finding was by increasing the flow rate, curcumin solubility rate increased with a very mild slope. The optimum conditions for the curcumin solubility were in the water flow rate of 0.8 ml/min, 10% (v/v) of ethanol, and the temperature of 150 °C. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this study was to evaluate therapeutic potential of curcumin-loaded poly(3-hydroxybutyrate-co-3-hydroxyhexanoate) PHBHHx nanoparticles (CUR-NPs) and concanavaline A conjugated curcumin-loaded NPs (ConA-CUR-NPs) for breast cancer treatment. The size and zeta potential of prepared NPs were about 228 ± 5 nm and −23.3 mV, respectively. The entrapment efficiencies of polymer/drug weight ratios, 1.25CUR-NPs, 2.5CUR-NPs, 5CUR-NPs, ConA-1.25CUR-NPs, ConA-2.5CUR-NPs and ConA-5CUR-NPs were found to be ≈68, 55, 45, 70, 60 and 51%, respectively. Optimized NPs formulations in the freeze-dried form were assessed with their short-term stability for 30 days of storage at 4 °C and 25 °C. Anticancer activity of ConA-CUR-NPs was proved by MTT assay and reconfirmed by double staining and flow cytometry results. The anticancer activity of ConA-CUR-NPs was measured in human breast cancer cells (MDA-MB 231)in vitro, and the results revealed that the ConA-CUR-NPs had better tumor cells decline activity. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Internalization of drugs by cancer cells is a crucial factor to impact cancer treatment effect. Curcumin, having inhibitory effect on a variety of cancers, was encapsulated into micelles of six-arm star-shape poly(?-caprolactone)-b-poly(2-methacryloyloxyethylphosphorylcholine) (6sPCL-PMPC) in order to enhance its concentration in blood and cellular uptake. Micelles and curcumin-loaded micelles were prepared by the solvent-evaporation method. Drug-loading content and drug-loading efficiency could be achieved as high as 18.9 and 98%. MTT results showed that these curcumin-loaded micelles displayed significant cell cytotoxicity, while these blank micelles were noncytotoxic. The curcumin-loaded 6sPCL-PMPC micelles showed higher efficiency to kill HeLa cells than that of curcumin-loaded PCL-PEG micelles. The cellular uptake study indicated that the curcumin encapsulated into 6sPCL-PMPC micelles was ingested more by HeLa cells than the curcumin encapsulated into PCL-PEG micelles. In conclusion, the micelles with phosphatidylcholine (PC) groups as their exterior can greatly enhance the uptake by HeLa cells and the cytotoxicity of curcumin due to excellent internalization by cancer cells. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Background: cis-Diammineplatinum (II) dichloride (cisplatin) is the important anti-cancer agent useful in treatment of various cancers. Unfortunately, it can produce unwanted side effects in various tissues, including the liver. The present study investigated the possible protective role of curcumin and α-tocopherol against oxidative stress-induced hepatotoxicity in rats upon cisplatin treatment. Methods: Male Wistar rats were divided into five groups (n = 5). Saline and Cis groups, rats were intraperitoneal (i.p.) injected with normal saline and cisplatin [20 mg/kg body weight (b.w.)], respectively. Cis + α-tocopherol group, Cis + Cur group and Cis + α-tocopherol + Cur group, rats were pre-treated with a single dose of α-tocopherol (250 mg/kg b.w.), curcumin (200 mg/kg b.w.) and combined α-tocopherol with curcumin, respectively, for 24 h prior the administration of cisplatin. After 72 h of first injection, specimens were collected. Liver enzyme, lipid peroxidation biomarker, liver histopathology and gene expression of liver nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NADPH) oxidase were investigated. Results: Cisplatin revealed a significant increase of hepatic malondialdehyde (MDA) levels and a significant reduction of hepatic superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase activities compared to the saline group. It elicited a marked increase of the serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) levels and demonstrated the liver pathologies including liver congestion, disorganization of hepatic cords and ground glass appearance of hepatocytes. It also demonstrated a significant increase of NADPH oxidase gene expression compared to saline group. Pre-treatment with combined curcumin and α-tocopherol improved the liver enzymes, lipid peroxidation biomarker, liver histopathology and gene expression of liver NADPH oxidase in cisplatin-treated rats. Conclusions: The findings indicate that pre-treatment with combined curcumin and α-tocopherol can protect cisplatin-induced hepatotoxicity including the biochemical, histological and molecular aspects. The down-regulations of NADPH oxidase gene expression may be involved in abrogating oxidative stress via reduction of reactive oxygen species (ROS) production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]