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BMC Complementary Medicine and Therapies
Published in: BMC Complementary Medicine and Therapies 1/2022

Open Access 01-12-2022 | Toxoplasmosis | Research

Formulation of Neem oil-loaded solid lipid nanoparticles and evaluation of its anti-Toxoplasma activity

Authors: Sara Nemati, Hanieh Mohammad Rahimi, Zahra Hesari, Meysam Sharifdini, Nooshin Jalilzadeh Aghdam, Hamed Mirjalali, Mohammad Reza Zali

Published in: BMC Complementary Medicine and Therapies | Issue 1/2022

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Abstract

Background

Toxoplasmosis is caused by an intracellular zoonotic protozoan, Toxoplasma gondii, which could be lethal in immunocompromised patients. This study aimed to synthesize Neem oil-loaded solid lipid nanoparticles (NeO-SLNs) and to evaluate the anti-Toxoplasma activity of this component.

Methods

The NeO-SLNs were constructed using double emulsification method, and their shape and size distribution were evaluated using transmission electron microscope (TEM) and dynamic light scattering (DLS), respectively. An MTT assay was employed to evaluate the cell toxicity of the component. The anti-Toxoplasma activity of NeO-SLNs was investigated using vital (trypan-blue) staining. Anti-intracellular Toxoplasma activity of NeO-SLNs was evaluated in T. gondii-infected Vero cells.

Results

The TEM analysis represented round shape NeO-SLNs with clear and stable margins. DLS analysis showed a mean particle size 337.6 nm for SLNs, and most of nanoparticles were in range 30 to 120 nm. The cell toxicity of NeO-SLNs was directly correlated with the concentration of the component (P-value = 0.0013). The concentration of NeO-SLNs, which was toxic for at least 50% of alive T. gondii (cytotoxic concentration (CC50)), was > 10 mg/mL. The ability of NeO-SLNs to kill Toxoplasma was concentration-dependent (P-value < 0.0001), and all concentrations killed at least 70% of alive tachyzoites. Furthermore, the viability of T. gondii- infected Vero cells was inversely correlated with NeO-SLNs concentrations (P-value = 0.0317), and in the concentration 100 μg/mL at least 75% of T. gondii- infected Vero cells remained alive.

Conclusions

Overall, our findings demonstrated that the NeO-SLNs was able to kill T. gondii tachyzoites in concentration 100 μg/mL with a cell toxicity lower than 20%. Such results suggest that employing SLNs as carrier for NeO can effectively kill T. gondii tachyzoites with acceptable cell toxicity. Our findings also showed that SLNs capsulation of the NeO can lead to prolonged release of the extract, suggesting that NeO-SLNs could be also employed to clear cyst stages, which should be further investigated in animal models.
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Metadata
Title
Formulation of Neem oil-loaded solid lipid nanoparticles and evaluation of its anti-Toxoplasma activity
Authors
Sara Nemati
Hanieh Mohammad Rahimi
Zahra Hesari
Meysam Sharifdini
Nooshin Jalilzadeh Aghdam
Hamed Mirjalali
Mohammad Reza Zali
Publication date
01-12-2022
Publisher
BioMed Central
Keyword
Toxoplasmosis
Published in
BMC Complementary Medicine and Therapies / Issue 1/2022
Electronic ISSN: 2662-7671
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1186/s12906-022-03607-z

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