Green Synthesis of Chitosan/Silver Nanoparticles Using Citrus paradisi Extract and Its Potential Anti-Cryptosporidiosis Effect

Bibliographic Information
Authors: Alsulami M.N.; El-Wakil E.S.
Journal: Pharmaceutics
Publisher: Multidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute (MDPI)
Publication Date: 22 July 2024
Volume / Issue: Volume 16 / Issue 7
Article No.: 968
ISSN: 19994923
DOI: 10.3390/pharmaceutics16070968
Scopus: View on Scopus
Document Type: Article
Access: All Open Access; Gold Open Access; Green Open Access
Authors and Affiliations
Alsulami M.N., Department of Biology, College of Science, University of Jeddah, Jeddah, 21589, Saudi Arabia; El-Wakil E.S., Department of Parasitology, Theodor Bilharz Research Institute, Kornaish El-Nile, Warrak El-Hadar, Imbaba (P.O. 30), Giza, 12411, Egypt
Abstract
Cryptosporidium parvum (C. parvum) is one of the most prevalent species infecting humans and animals. Currently, the only FDA-licensed drug to treat cryptosporidiosis is nitazoxanide (NTZ), with no efficacy in immunocompromised hosts. Citrus paradisi (C. paradisi) has demonstrated anti-protozoal activities. This study aimed to investigate the anti-cryptosporidiosis effect of C. paradisi peel extract, either alone or in mediating the green synthesis of chitosan silver nanoparticles (Cs/Ag NPs), compared to NTZ. Mice were sorted into nine different groups. The effectiveness of the treatments was evaluated using parasitology, histopathology, immunohistochemistry, and immunology. C. paradisi outperformed nitazoxanide regarding oocyst shedding (79% vs. 61%). The effectiveness of NTZ Cs/Ag NPs and Citrus Cs/Ag NPs was enhanced to 78% and 91%, respectively. The highest oocyst inhibition was obtained by combining NTZ and Citrus Cs/Ag NPs (96%). NF-κB, TNF-α, and Il-10 levels increased in response to infection and decreased in response to various treatments, with the highest reduction in the group treated with combined NTZ citrus Cs/Ag NPs. Combining C. paradisi with NTZ could have a synergistic effect, making it a potentially effective anti-cryptosporidiosis agent. Utilizing C. paradisi in the green synthesis of Cs/Ag NPs improves the therapeutic response and can be used to produce novel therapeutic antiparasitic drugs. © 2024 by the authors.
Keywords
antiparasitic; chitosan; Citrus paradisi peel; Cryptosporidium parvum; green synthesis; silver nanoparticles; dexamethasone; grapefruit extract; nitazoxanide; silver nanoparticle; tumor necrosis factor; animal experiment; animal model; animal tissue; Article; blood sampling; cell infiltration; controlled study; coprolite; cryptosporidiosis; enzyme linked immunosorbent assay; examination; Fourier transform mass spectrometry; grapefruit; high performance liquid chromatography; histopathology; immunohistochemistry; immunosuppressive treatment; infrared spectroscopy; medicinal plant; mitochondrial membrane potential; mouse; nonhuman; oxidative stress; parasitological examination; particle size; scanning electron microscopy; surface plasmon resonance; synthesis; transmission electron microscopy; ultraviolet visible spectroscopy
Citation Information
Scopus Citations: 10
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