Liposomal Delivery of a Biotechnological <i>Lavandula angustifolia</i> Miller Extract Rich in Rosmarinic Acid for Topical Herpes Simplex Therapy

Herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) is a widespread pathogen responsible for recurrent infections, primarily affecting the skin and mucous membranes. With the aim of targeting both the viral infection and the associated inflammatory response, biotechnologically produced <i>Lavandula angustifol...

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Main Authors: Federica Fulgheri, Fabrizio Angius, Matteo Perra, Ilenia Delogu, Silvia Puxeddu, Milen I. Georgiev, Renáta Novotná, Jana Franková, Misia Lobina, Aldo Manzin, Maria Manconi, Maria Letizia Manca
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-06-01
Series:Antioxidants
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3921/14/7/811
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author Federica Fulgheri
Fabrizio Angius
Matteo Perra
Ilenia Delogu
Silvia Puxeddu
Milen I. Georgiev
Renáta Novotná
Jana Franková
Misia Lobina
Aldo Manzin
Maria Manconi
Maria Letizia Manca
author_facet Federica Fulgheri
Fabrizio Angius
Matteo Perra
Ilenia Delogu
Silvia Puxeddu
Milen I. Georgiev
Renáta Novotná
Jana Franková
Misia Lobina
Aldo Manzin
Maria Manconi
Maria Letizia Manca
author_sort Federica Fulgheri
collection DOAJ
description Herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) is a widespread pathogen responsible for recurrent infections, primarily affecting the skin and mucous membranes. With the aim of targeting both the viral infection and the associated inflammatory response, biotechnologically produced <i>Lavandula angustifolia</i> Miller (<i>L. angustifolia</i>) extract, rich in rosmarinic acid, was incorporated into liposomal formulations intended for topical application. Lavender is known for its strong anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, wound-healing, and antiviral properties. However, its low stability under certain conditions limits its therapeutic potential. Four different formulations were developed: conventional liposomes, glycerosomes, hyalurosomes, and glycerohyalurosomes. The vesicles were characterized for size, stability, and entrapment efficiency. Glycerosomes were the smallest (~58 nm), while the other formulations ranged around 77 nm, all maintaining a highly negative surface charge, ensuring stability and reduced aggregation. Glycerol-containing formulations demonstrated superior stability over 12 months, while liposomes and hyalurosomes increased their size after only two months. Entrapment efficiency reached up to 100% for most vesicles, except for glycerohyalurosomes (~54%). In vitro studies on Normal Human Dermal Fibroblasts (NHDFs) demonstrated that all formulations were biocompatible and enhanced cell viability under oxidative stress. Glycerosomes, hyalurosomes, and glycerohyalurosomes exhibited significant anti-inflammatory activity by reducing MMP-1 and IL-6 levels in LPS-stimulated fibroblasts. Furthermore, these preliminary results highlighted promising antiviral activity against HSV-1 of the obtained formulations, particularly when applied during or post-infection. Overall, these phospholipid vesicles offer a dual therapeutic approach, combining antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and antiviral effects, positioning them as promising candidates for the treatment of HSV-induced skin lesions and related inflammatory conditions.
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spelling doaj-art-b668cb9050ea49e9b8916555ff69d8932025-08-20T03:55:48ZengMDPI AGAntioxidants2076-39212025-06-0114781110.3390/antiox14070811Liposomal Delivery of a Biotechnological <i>Lavandula angustifolia</i> Miller Extract Rich in Rosmarinic Acid for Topical Herpes Simplex TherapyFederica Fulgheri0Fabrizio Angius1Matteo Perra2Ilenia Delogu3Silvia Puxeddu4Milen I. Georgiev5Renáta Novotná6Jana Franková7Misia Lobina8Aldo Manzin9Maria Manconi10Maria Letizia Manca11Department of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Cagliari, 09042 Monserrato, ItalyDepartment of Biomedical Sciences, Section of Microbiology and Virology, University of Cagliari, 09042 Cagliari, ItalyDepartment of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Cagliari, 09042 Monserrato, ItalyDepartment of Biomedical Sciences, Section of Microbiology and Virology, University of Cagliari, 09042 Cagliari, ItalyDepartment of Biomedical Sciences, Section of Microbiology and Virology, University of Cagliari, 09042 Cagliari, ItalyLaboratory of Metabolomics, Department of Biotechnology, Institute of Microbiology, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, 4002 Plovdiv, BulgariaDepartment of Medical Chemistry and Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, Palacký University Olomouc, 775 15 Olomouc, Czech RepublicDepartment of Medical Chemistry and Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, Palacký University Olomouc, 775 15 Olomouc, Czech RepublicDepartment of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Cagliari, 09042 Monserrato, ItalyDepartment of Biomedical Sciences, Section of Microbiology and Virology, University of Cagliari, 09042 Cagliari, ItalyDepartment of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Cagliari, 09042 Monserrato, ItalyDepartment of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Cagliari, 09042 Monserrato, ItalyHerpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) is a widespread pathogen responsible for recurrent infections, primarily affecting the skin and mucous membranes. With the aim of targeting both the viral infection and the associated inflammatory response, biotechnologically produced <i>Lavandula angustifolia</i> Miller (<i>L. angustifolia</i>) extract, rich in rosmarinic acid, was incorporated into liposomal formulations intended for topical application. Lavender is known for its strong anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, wound-healing, and antiviral properties. However, its low stability under certain conditions limits its therapeutic potential. Four different formulations were developed: conventional liposomes, glycerosomes, hyalurosomes, and glycerohyalurosomes. The vesicles were characterized for size, stability, and entrapment efficiency. Glycerosomes were the smallest (~58 nm), while the other formulations ranged around 77 nm, all maintaining a highly negative surface charge, ensuring stability and reduced aggregation. Glycerol-containing formulations demonstrated superior stability over 12 months, while liposomes and hyalurosomes increased their size after only two months. Entrapment efficiency reached up to 100% for most vesicles, except for glycerohyalurosomes (~54%). In vitro studies on Normal Human Dermal Fibroblasts (NHDFs) demonstrated that all formulations were biocompatible and enhanced cell viability under oxidative stress. Glycerosomes, hyalurosomes, and glycerohyalurosomes exhibited significant anti-inflammatory activity by reducing MMP-1 and IL-6 levels in LPS-stimulated fibroblasts. Furthermore, these preliminary results highlighted promising antiviral activity against HSV-1 of the obtained formulations, particularly when applied during or post-infection. Overall, these phospholipid vesicles offer a dual therapeutic approach, combining antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and antiviral effects, positioning them as promising candidates for the treatment of HSV-induced skin lesions and related inflammatory conditions.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3921/14/7/811cutaneous deliverydrug delivery systemantioxidantantiviral activitynanocarriersNormal Human Dermal Fibroblasts
spellingShingle Federica Fulgheri
Fabrizio Angius
Matteo Perra
Ilenia Delogu
Silvia Puxeddu
Milen I. Georgiev
Renáta Novotná
Jana Franková
Misia Lobina
Aldo Manzin
Maria Manconi
Maria Letizia Manca
Liposomal Delivery of a Biotechnological <i>Lavandula angustifolia</i> Miller Extract Rich in Rosmarinic Acid for Topical Herpes Simplex Therapy
Antioxidants
cutaneous delivery
drug delivery system
antioxidant
antiviral activity
nanocarriers
Normal Human Dermal Fibroblasts
title Liposomal Delivery of a Biotechnological <i>Lavandula angustifolia</i> Miller Extract Rich in Rosmarinic Acid for Topical Herpes Simplex Therapy
title_full Liposomal Delivery of a Biotechnological <i>Lavandula angustifolia</i> Miller Extract Rich in Rosmarinic Acid for Topical Herpes Simplex Therapy
title_fullStr Liposomal Delivery of a Biotechnological <i>Lavandula angustifolia</i> Miller Extract Rich in Rosmarinic Acid for Topical Herpes Simplex Therapy
title_full_unstemmed Liposomal Delivery of a Biotechnological <i>Lavandula angustifolia</i> Miller Extract Rich in Rosmarinic Acid for Topical Herpes Simplex Therapy
title_short Liposomal Delivery of a Biotechnological <i>Lavandula angustifolia</i> Miller Extract Rich in Rosmarinic Acid for Topical Herpes Simplex Therapy
title_sort liposomal delivery of a biotechnological i lavandula angustifolia i miller extract rich in rosmarinic acid for topical herpes simplex therapy
topic cutaneous delivery
drug delivery system
antioxidant
antiviral activity
nanocarriers
Normal Human Dermal Fibroblasts
url https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3921/14/7/811
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