The Effect of Nano-Epigallocatechin-Gallate on Oxidative Stress and Matrix Metalloproteinases in Experimental Diabetes Mellitus
Adriana Elena Bulboaca,
Paul-Mihai Boarescu,
Alina Silvia Porfire,
Gabriela Dogaru,
Cristina Barbalata,
Madalina Valeanu,
Constantin Munteanu,
Ruxandra Mioara Râjnoveanu,
Cristina Ariadna Nicula,
Ioana Cristina Stanescu
Affiliations
Adriana Elena Bulboaca
Department of Pathophysiology, Iuliu Haţieganu University of Medicine and Pharmacy Cluj-Napoca, Victor Babeş Street, no. 2-4, 400012 Cluj-Napoca, Romania
Paul-Mihai Boarescu
Department of Pathophysiology, Iuliu Haţieganu University of Medicine and Pharmacy Cluj-Napoca, Victor Babeş Street, no. 2-4, 400012 Cluj-Napoca, Romania
Alina Silvia Porfire
Department of Pharmaceutical Technology and Biopharmaceutics, Iuliu Haţieganu University of Medicine and Pharmacy Cluj-Napoca, Victor Babeş Street, no. 41, 400012 Cluj-Napoca, Romania
Gabriela Dogaru
Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Iuliu Haţieganu University of Medicine and Pharmacy Cluj-Napoca, Viilor Street, no. 46-50, 400347 Cluj-Napoca, Romania
Cristina Barbalata
Department of Pharmaceutical Technology and Biopharmaceutics, Iuliu Haţieganu University of Medicine and Pharmacy Cluj-Napoca, Victor Babeş Street, no. 41, 400012 Cluj-Napoca, Romania
Madalina Valeanu
Department of Medical Informatics and Biostatistics, Iuliu Haţieganu University of Medicine and Pharmacy Cluj-Napoca, Louis Pasteur Street, no. 6, 400349 Cluj-Napoca, Romania
Constantin Munteanu
Department of Medical Rehabilitation, “BagdasarArseni” Emergency Clinical Hospital Bucharest, Berceni Street, no. 12, 041915 Cluj-Napoca, Romania
Ruxandra Mioara Râjnoveanu
Department of Pneumology, Iuliu Haţieganu University of Medicine and Pharmacy Cluj-Napoca, B.P. Hasdeu Street, no. 6, 400371 Cluj-Napoca, Romania
Cristina Ariadna Nicula
Department of Ophthalmology, Iuliu Haţieganu University of Medicine and Pharmacy Cluj-Napoca, Clinicilor Street, no. 3-5, 400006 Cluj-Napoca, Romania
Ioana Cristina Stanescu
Department of Neurology, Iuliu Haţieganu University of Medicine and Pharmacy Cluj-Napoca, Victor Babeş Street, no. 43, 400012 Cluj-Napoca, Romania
Background: The antioxidant properties of epigallocatechin-gallate (EGCG), a green tea compound, have been already studied in various diseases. Improving the bioavailability of EGCG by nanoformulation may contribute to a more effective treatment of diabetes mellitus (DM) metabolic consequences and vascular complications. The aim of this study was to test the comparative effect of liposomal EGCG with EGCG solution in experimental DM induced by streptozotocin (STZ) in rats. Method: 28 Wistar-Bratislava rats were randomly divided into four groups (7 animals/group): group 1—control group, with intraperitoneal (i.p.) administration of 1 mL saline solution (C); group 2—STZ administration by i.p. route (60 mg/100 g body weight, bw) (STZ); group 3—STZ administration as before + i.p. administration of EGCG solution (EGCG), 2.5 mg/100 g b.w. as pretreatment; group 4—STZ administration as before + i.p. administration of liposomal EGCG, 2.5 mg/100 g b.w. (L-EGCG). The comparative effects of EGCG and L-EGCG were studied on: (i) oxidative stress parameters such as malondialdehyde (MDA), indirect nitric oxide (NOx) synthesis, and total oxidative status (TOS); (ii) antioxidant status assessed by total antioxidant capacity of plasma (TAC), thiols, and catalase; (iii) matrix-metalloproteinase-2 (MMP-2) and -9 (MMP-9). Results: L-EGCG has a better efficiency regarding the improvement of oxidative stress parameters (highly statistically significant with p-values < 0.001 for MDA, NOx, and TOS) and for antioxidant capacity of plasma (highly significant p < 0.001 for thiols and significant for catalase and TAC with p < 0.05). MMP-2 and -9 were also significantly reduced in the L-EGCG-treated group compared with the EGCG group (p < 0.001). Conclusions: the liposomal nanoformulation of EGCG may serve as an adjuvant therapy in DM due to its unique modulatory effect on oxidative stress/antioxidant biomarkers and MMP-2 and -9.