Effect of Chitosan Nanoparticle-Loaded Thymus serpyllum on Hydrogen Peroxide-Induced Bone Marrow Stromal Cell Damage.

We have determined the protective effects of Thymus serpyllum (TS) extract and nanoparticle-loaded TS on hydrogen peroxide-induced cell death of mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) in vitro . Gas chromatography-mass spectroscopy confirmed the spectrum of active components in the extract. Out of the three different extracts, the hexane extract showed significant free radical scavenging activity. Treatment of MSCs with H ₂ O ₂ (hydrogen peroxide) significantly increased intracellular cell death; however, pretreatment with TS extract and nanoparticle-loaded TS (200  μ g/ml) suppressed H ₂ O ₂ -induced elevation of Cyt-c and MMP13 and increased the survival rates of MSCs. H ₂ O ₂ -induced (0.1 mM) changes in cytokines were attenuated in the extract and nanoparticles by pretreatment and cotreatment at two time points ( p < 0.05). H ₂ O ₂ increased cell apoptosis. In contrast, treatment with nanoparticle-loaded TS suppressed the percentage of apoptosis considerably ( p < 0.05). Therefore, TS may be considered as a potential candidate for enhancing the effectiveness of MSC transplantation in cell therapy.