Bioactive Potential of Chitosan–Oleic Acid Nanoparticles Loaded with Lemon Peel Essential Oil for Topical Treatment of Vulvovaginal Candidiasis

The rising incidence of vulvovaginal candidiasis (VVC) has been leading to the development of alternative antifungal therapies. This study aimed to develop a topical chitosan–oleic acid nanoparticle (CH-OA-NP) cream loaded with lemon peel essential oil (LPEO) for VVC treatment. The characterization...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Faten M. Ibrahim, Eman Samy Shalaby, Mohamed F. Abdelhameed, Radwa H. El-Akad, Kawkab A. Ahmed, Mohamed S. Abdel-Aziz, El Sayed El Habbasha, Cristina V. Rodrigues, Manuela Pintado
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2024-12-01
Series:Molecules
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/1420-3049/29/23/5766
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
_version_ 1846123962404175872
author Faten M. Ibrahim
Eman Samy Shalaby
Mohamed F. Abdelhameed
Radwa H. El-Akad
Kawkab A. Ahmed
Mohamed S. Abdel-Aziz
El Sayed El Habbasha
Cristina V. Rodrigues
Manuela Pintado
author_facet Faten M. Ibrahim
Eman Samy Shalaby
Mohamed F. Abdelhameed
Radwa H. El-Akad
Kawkab A. Ahmed
Mohamed S. Abdel-Aziz
El Sayed El Habbasha
Cristina V. Rodrigues
Manuela Pintado
author_sort Faten M. Ibrahim
collection DOAJ
description The rising incidence of vulvovaginal candidiasis (VVC) has been leading to the development of alternative antifungal therapies. This study aimed to develop a topical chitosan–oleic acid nanoparticle (CH-OA-NP) cream loaded with lemon peel essential oil (LPEO) for VVC treatment. The characterization of the optimal nanoparticle formulation (F4: 10 g/L CH, 2:1 OA/LPEO ratio) showed high encapsulation efficiency, stability, and controlled release. Moreover, it was characterized regarding its particle size, polydispersity index, zeta potential, and chemical/morphological profile. LPEO-related compounds (e.g., eriodictyol) were identified through LC-ESI-QqTOF-HRMS in the cream matrix, suggesting the preservation of LPEO potential bioactivities after formulation. In silico docking of 12 LPEO metabolites revealed that compounds such as citronellic acid exerted inhibitory effects against several inflammation-associated enzymes (e.g., 14-α-Demethylase). In vitro antimicrobial tests demonstrated remarkable activity against <i>Candida albicans</i>, Gram-negative (e.g., <i>Escherichia coli</i>), and Gram-positive (e.g., <i>Staphylococcus aureus</i>) bacteria. <i>In vivo</i> studies in a rat model of VVC revealed significant antifungal, anti-inflammatory, and immunomodulatory effects of the LPEO-CH-OA-NP cream (5% and 10%), leading to reduced MDA, MPO, and IL-1β levels and increased GSH activity. This novel formulation potentially offers a promising alternative therapy for VVC, addressing the current antifungal therapies’ limitations, counteracting drug resistance.
format Article
id doaj-art-173d7061a5304565b1e61e752af338b3
institution Kabale University
issn 1420-3049
language English
publishDate 2024-12-01
publisher MDPI AG
record_format Article
series Molecules
spelling doaj-art-173d7061a5304565b1e61e752af338b32024-12-13T16:28:59ZengMDPI AGMolecules1420-30492024-12-012923576610.3390/molecules29235766Bioactive Potential of Chitosan–Oleic Acid Nanoparticles Loaded with Lemon Peel Essential Oil for Topical Treatment of Vulvovaginal CandidiasisFaten M. Ibrahim0Eman Samy Shalaby1Mohamed F. Abdelhameed2Radwa H. El-Akad3Kawkab A. Ahmed4Mohamed S. Abdel-Aziz5El Sayed El Habbasha6Cristina V. Rodrigues7Manuela Pintado8Medicinal and Aromatic Plants Research Department, Pharmaceutical and Drug Industries Research Institute, National Research Centre, Cairo P.O. Box 12622, EgyptPharmaceutical Technology Department, Pharmaceutical and Drug Industries Research Institute, National Research Centre, Cairo P.O. Box 12622, EgyptPharmacology Department, Medical Research and Clinical Studies Institute, National Research Centre, Dokki, Giza P.O. Box 12622, EgyptPharmacognosy Department, Pharmaceutical and Drug Industries Research Institute, National Research Centre, Dokki, Giza P.O. Box 12622, EgyptDepartment of Pathology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Cairo University, Giza P.O. Box 12211, EgyptMicrobial Chemistry Department, Biotechnology Research Institute, National Research Centre, Cairo P.O. Box 12622, EgyptField Crops Research Department, National Research Centre, Cairo P.O. Box 12622, EgyptCBQF—Centro de Biotecnologia e Química Fina, Laboratório Associado, Escola Superior de Biotecnologia, Universidade Católica Portuguesa, Rua Diogo Botelho 1327, 4169-005 Porto, PortugalCBQF—Centro de Biotecnologia e Química Fina, Laboratório Associado, Escola Superior de Biotecnologia, Universidade Católica Portuguesa, Rua Diogo Botelho 1327, 4169-005 Porto, PortugalThe rising incidence of vulvovaginal candidiasis (VVC) has been leading to the development of alternative antifungal therapies. This study aimed to develop a topical chitosan–oleic acid nanoparticle (CH-OA-NP) cream loaded with lemon peel essential oil (LPEO) for VVC treatment. The characterization of the optimal nanoparticle formulation (F4: 10 g/L CH, 2:1 OA/LPEO ratio) showed high encapsulation efficiency, stability, and controlled release. Moreover, it was characterized regarding its particle size, polydispersity index, zeta potential, and chemical/morphological profile. LPEO-related compounds (e.g., eriodictyol) were identified through LC-ESI-QqTOF-HRMS in the cream matrix, suggesting the preservation of LPEO potential bioactivities after formulation. In silico docking of 12 LPEO metabolites revealed that compounds such as citronellic acid exerted inhibitory effects against several inflammation-associated enzymes (e.g., 14-α-Demethylase). In vitro antimicrobial tests demonstrated remarkable activity against <i>Candida albicans</i>, Gram-negative (e.g., <i>Escherichia coli</i>), and Gram-positive (e.g., <i>Staphylococcus aureus</i>) bacteria. <i>In vivo</i> studies in a rat model of VVC revealed significant antifungal, anti-inflammatory, and immunomodulatory effects of the LPEO-CH-OA-NP cream (5% and 10%), leading to reduced MDA, MPO, and IL-1β levels and increased GSH activity. This novel formulation potentially offers a promising alternative therapy for VVC, addressing the current antifungal therapies’ limitations, counteracting drug resistance.https://www.mdpi.com/1420-3049/29/23/5766citrus byproductslemon essential oilantimicrobial therapiesbioactive compoundschitosan–oleic acid nanoparticlesvulvovaginal candidiasis
spellingShingle Faten M. Ibrahim
Eman Samy Shalaby
Mohamed F. Abdelhameed
Radwa H. El-Akad
Kawkab A. Ahmed
Mohamed S. Abdel-Aziz
El Sayed El Habbasha
Cristina V. Rodrigues
Manuela Pintado
Bioactive Potential of Chitosan–Oleic Acid Nanoparticles Loaded with Lemon Peel Essential Oil for Topical Treatment of Vulvovaginal Candidiasis
Molecules
citrus byproducts
lemon essential oil
antimicrobial therapies
bioactive compounds
chitosan–oleic acid nanoparticles
vulvovaginal candidiasis
title Bioactive Potential of Chitosan–Oleic Acid Nanoparticles Loaded with Lemon Peel Essential Oil for Topical Treatment of Vulvovaginal Candidiasis
title_full Bioactive Potential of Chitosan–Oleic Acid Nanoparticles Loaded with Lemon Peel Essential Oil for Topical Treatment of Vulvovaginal Candidiasis
title_fullStr Bioactive Potential of Chitosan–Oleic Acid Nanoparticles Loaded with Lemon Peel Essential Oil for Topical Treatment of Vulvovaginal Candidiasis
title_full_unstemmed Bioactive Potential of Chitosan–Oleic Acid Nanoparticles Loaded with Lemon Peel Essential Oil for Topical Treatment of Vulvovaginal Candidiasis
title_short Bioactive Potential of Chitosan–Oleic Acid Nanoparticles Loaded with Lemon Peel Essential Oil for Topical Treatment of Vulvovaginal Candidiasis
title_sort bioactive potential of chitosan oleic acid nanoparticles loaded with lemon peel essential oil for topical treatment of vulvovaginal candidiasis
topic citrus byproducts
lemon essential oil
antimicrobial therapies
bioactive compounds
chitosan–oleic acid nanoparticles
vulvovaginal candidiasis
url https://www.mdpi.com/1420-3049/29/23/5766
work_keys_str_mv AT fatenmibrahim bioactivepotentialofchitosanoleicacidnanoparticlesloadedwithlemonpeelessentialoilfortopicaltreatmentofvulvovaginalcandidiasis
AT emansamyshalaby bioactivepotentialofchitosanoleicacidnanoparticlesloadedwithlemonpeelessentialoilfortopicaltreatmentofvulvovaginalcandidiasis
AT mohamedfabdelhameed bioactivepotentialofchitosanoleicacidnanoparticlesloadedwithlemonpeelessentialoilfortopicaltreatmentofvulvovaginalcandidiasis
AT radwahelakad bioactivepotentialofchitosanoleicacidnanoparticlesloadedwithlemonpeelessentialoilfortopicaltreatmentofvulvovaginalcandidiasis
AT kawkabaahmed bioactivepotentialofchitosanoleicacidnanoparticlesloadedwithlemonpeelessentialoilfortopicaltreatmentofvulvovaginalcandidiasis
AT mohamedsabdelaziz bioactivepotentialofchitosanoleicacidnanoparticlesloadedwithlemonpeelessentialoilfortopicaltreatmentofvulvovaginalcandidiasis
AT elsayedelhabbasha bioactivepotentialofchitosanoleicacidnanoparticlesloadedwithlemonpeelessentialoilfortopicaltreatmentofvulvovaginalcandidiasis
AT cristinavrodrigues bioactivepotentialofchitosanoleicacidnanoparticlesloadedwithlemonpeelessentialoilfortopicaltreatmentofvulvovaginalcandidiasis
AT manuelapintado bioactivepotentialofchitosanoleicacidnanoparticlesloadedwithlemonpeelessentialoilfortopicaltreatmentofvulvovaginalcandidiasis