Hesperidin loaded bilosomes mitigate the nephrotoxicity induced by methotrexate; biochemical and molecular in vivo investigations

Abstract Background Drugs, chemicals, and poisons may damage kidneys and cause chronic renal disease. About 20% of community and hospital acute renal failures are drug-related. Objectives Hesperidin-loaded bilosomes (HES-BS) nanoformula was tested for nephroprotection against methotrexate (MTX)-indu...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Shiemaa H. Mahmoud, Walaa A. Moselhy, Ahmed F. Azmy, Fatma I. Abo El-Ela
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: BMC 2025-07-01
Series:BMC Nephrology
Subjects:
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1186/s12882-025-04328-4
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
_version_ 1849237669302763520
author Shiemaa H. Mahmoud
Walaa A. Moselhy
Ahmed F. Azmy
Fatma I. Abo El-Ela
author_facet Shiemaa H. Mahmoud
Walaa A. Moselhy
Ahmed F. Azmy
Fatma I. Abo El-Ela
author_sort Shiemaa H. Mahmoud
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Background Drugs, chemicals, and poisons may damage kidneys and cause chronic renal disease. About 20% of community and hospital acute renal failures are drug-related. Objectives Hesperidin-loaded bilosomes (HES-BS) nanoformula was tested for nephroprotection against methotrexate (MTX)-induced kidney injury in rats. Thin-film hydration produced HES-BS nanoformula. Drug-loading capacity, encapsulation efficiency (EE %), FTIR, DSC, zeta sizer, and potential were employed for characterization, coupled with an in vitro release study. In vivo pharmacological investigations on White male albino rats measured metabolic parameters, oxidative stress indicators, Nrf2 /Keap1 and BCL2/Bax gene expression, and histopathological alterations. Results The HES-BS nanoformula was synthesized with 162 nm particles and − 21.6 mv potential charge. The Transmissions electron microscopy (TEM) showed spherical HES-BS. Hesperidin-excipient compatibility was shown by FTIR and DSC investigations on the modified formulation, with 89.1% EE%. In vitro drug release showed 56% release after eight hours and 60.1% after 24 h, with greater bioavailability than crude HES. The IC₅₀ value of hesperidin decreased from 264 µg/mL to 106.2 µg/mL upon bilosome loading in Vero cells. MTX’s nephrotoxicity was mitigated by the HES-BS nano formula’s effects on creatinine, urea, uric acid, eGFR, Na, and K levels. Malondialdehyde (MDA) and Nitric Oxide (NO) were notably decreased, whereas Glutathione (GSH) and Superoxide Dismutase (SOD) were markedly elevated. Also, Nrf2 and Bcl2 were upregulated, while Keap1 and Bax were downregulated. Additionally, the produced nanoformula improved the histopathological function. Conclusion Our novel HES-BS nanoformula had potent nephroprotective activity by reducing the toxic effects of MTX treatment by improving biochemical indicators of kidney function, oxidative stress markers, anti-apoptotic gene expression, and apoptotic gene expression, as well as histopathological improvement.
format Article
id doaj-art-1e0eb0b01ff247b4b9c95ae3fe7c33ac
institution Kabale University
issn 1471-2369
language English
publishDate 2025-07-01
publisher BMC
record_format Article
series BMC Nephrology
spelling doaj-art-1e0eb0b01ff247b4b9c95ae3fe7c33ac2025-08-20T04:01:53ZengBMCBMC Nephrology1471-23692025-07-0126111610.1186/s12882-025-04328-4Hesperidin loaded bilosomes mitigate the nephrotoxicity induced by methotrexate; biochemical and molecular in vivo investigationsShiemaa H. Mahmoud0Walaa A. Moselhy1Ahmed F. Azmy2Fatma I. Abo El-Ela3Biotechnology and Life Sciences Department, Faculty of Postgraduate Studies for Advanced Sciences, Beni-Suef UniversityDepartment of Forensic Medicine and Toxicology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Beni-Suef UniversityDepartment of Microbiology and Immunology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Beni- Suef UniversityPharmacology Department, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Beni-Suef UniversityAbstract Background Drugs, chemicals, and poisons may damage kidneys and cause chronic renal disease. About 20% of community and hospital acute renal failures are drug-related. Objectives Hesperidin-loaded bilosomes (HES-BS) nanoformula was tested for nephroprotection against methotrexate (MTX)-induced kidney injury in rats. Thin-film hydration produced HES-BS nanoformula. Drug-loading capacity, encapsulation efficiency (EE %), FTIR, DSC, zeta sizer, and potential were employed for characterization, coupled with an in vitro release study. In vivo pharmacological investigations on White male albino rats measured metabolic parameters, oxidative stress indicators, Nrf2 /Keap1 and BCL2/Bax gene expression, and histopathological alterations. Results The HES-BS nanoformula was synthesized with 162 nm particles and − 21.6 mv potential charge. The Transmissions electron microscopy (TEM) showed spherical HES-BS. Hesperidin-excipient compatibility was shown by FTIR and DSC investigations on the modified formulation, with 89.1% EE%. In vitro drug release showed 56% release after eight hours and 60.1% after 24 h, with greater bioavailability than crude HES. The IC₅₀ value of hesperidin decreased from 264 µg/mL to 106.2 µg/mL upon bilosome loading in Vero cells. MTX’s nephrotoxicity was mitigated by the HES-BS nano formula’s effects on creatinine, urea, uric acid, eGFR, Na, and K levels. Malondialdehyde (MDA) and Nitric Oxide (NO) were notably decreased, whereas Glutathione (GSH) and Superoxide Dismutase (SOD) were markedly elevated. Also, Nrf2 and Bcl2 were upregulated, while Keap1 and Bax were downregulated. Additionally, the produced nanoformula improved the histopathological function. Conclusion Our novel HES-BS nanoformula had potent nephroprotective activity by reducing the toxic effects of MTX treatment by improving biochemical indicators of kidney function, oxidative stress markers, anti-apoptotic gene expression, and apoptotic gene expression, as well as histopathological improvement.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12882-025-04328-4HesperidinBilosomesNephrotoxicityNrf2Keap1Bcl2
spellingShingle Shiemaa H. Mahmoud
Walaa A. Moselhy
Ahmed F. Azmy
Fatma I. Abo El-Ela
Hesperidin loaded bilosomes mitigate the nephrotoxicity induced by methotrexate; biochemical and molecular in vivo investigations
BMC Nephrology
Hesperidin
Bilosomes
Nephrotoxicity
Nrf2
Keap1
Bcl2
title Hesperidin loaded bilosomes mitigate the nephrotoxicity induced by methotrexate; biochemical and molecular in vivo investigations
title_full Hesperidin loaded bilosomes mitigate the nephrotoxicity induced by methotrexate; biochemical and molecular in vivo investigations
title_fullStr Hesperidin loaded bilosomes mitigate the nephrotoxicity induced by methotrexate; biochemical and molecular in vivo investigations
title_full_unstemmed Hesperidin loaded bilosomes mitigate the nephrotoxicity induced by methotrexate; biochemical and molecular in vivo investigations
title_short Hesperidin loaded bilosomes mitigate the nephrotoxicity induced by methotrexate; biochemical and molecular in vivo investigations
title_sort hesperidin loaded bilosomes mitigate the nephrotoxicity induced by methotrexate biochemical and molecular in vivo investigations
topic Hesperidin
Bilosomes
Nephrotoxicity
Nrf2
Keap1
Bcl2
url https://doi.org/10.1186/s12882-025-04328-4
work_keys_str_mv AT shiemaahmahmoud hesperidinloadedbilosomesmitigatethenephrotoxicityinducedbymethotrexatebiochemicalandmolecularinvivoinvestigations
AT walaaamoselhy hesperidinloadedbilosomesmitigatethenephrotoxicityinducedbymethotrexatebiochemicalandmolecularinvivoinvestigations
AT ahmedfazmy hesperidinloadedbilosomesmitigatethenephrotoxicityinducedbymethotrexatebiochemicalandmolecularinvivoinvestigations
AT fatmaiaboelela hesperidinloadedbilosomesmitigatethenephrotoxicityinducedbymethotrexatebiochemicalandmolecularinvivoinvestigations