Abstract
This study aimed to investigate the action of two different formulations of curcumin (Cur)-loaded nanocapsules (Nc) (Eudragit [EUD] and poly (ɛ-caprolactone) [PCL]) in an amnesia mice model. We also investigated the formulations’ effects on scopolamine-induced (SCO) depressive- and anxiety-like comorbidities, the cholinergic system, oxidative parameters, and inflammatory markers. Male Swiss mice were randomly divided into five groups (n = 8): group I (control), group II (Cur PCL Nc 10 mg/kg), group III (Cur EUD Nc 10 mg/kg), group IV (free Cur 10 mg/kg), and group V (SCO). Treatments with Nc or Cur (free) were performed daily or on alternate days. After 30 min of treatment, the animals received the SCO and were subjected to behavioral tests 30 min later (Barnes maze, open-field, object recognition, elevated plus maze, tail suspension tests, and step-down inhibitory avoidance tasks). The animals were then euthanized and tissue was removed for biochemical assays. Our results demonstrated that Cur treatment (Nc or free) protected against SCO-induced amnesia and depressive-like behavior. The ex vivo assays revealed lower acetylcholinesterase (AChE) and catalase (CAT) activity, reduced thiobarbituric species (TBARS), reactive species (RS), and non-protein thiols (NSPH) levels, and reduced interleukin-6 (IL-6) and tumor necrosis factor (TNF) expression. The treatments did not change hepatic markers in the plasma of mice. After treatments on alternate days, Cur Nc had a more significant effect than the free Cur protocol, implying that Cur may have prolonged action in Nc. This finding supports the concept that it is possible to achieve beneficial effects in nanoformulations, and treatment on alternate days differs from the free Cur protocol regarding anti-amnesic effects in mice.
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Acknowledgments
We are grateful for the financial support and scholarships from the Brazilian agencies CNPq (UNIVERSAL 429859/2018-0), FAPERGS (PqG 17/2551-0001013-2 and 19/2551-0001745-6). CNPq is also acknowledged for the fellowship to KCR (160674/2020-4), CL, EAW, LS, and NLCD. This study was funded in part by the Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior – Brasil (CAPES) - Finance Code 001. We would also like to thank Atlas Assessoria Linguística for language editing.
Funding
Financial support and scholarships from the Brazilian agencies CNPq (UNIVERSAL 429859/2018–0), FAPERGS (PqG 17/2551–0001013-2 and 19/2551–0001745-6). CNPq is also acknowledged for the fellowship to KCR (160674/2020–4), CL, EAW, LS, and NLCD. This study was funded in part by the Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior – Brasil (CAPES) - Finance Code 001. We would also like to thank Atlas Assessoria Linguística for language editing.
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All authors contributed to the study conception and design. Rodrigues KC: conceptualization, methodology, formal analysis, investigation, writing—original draft. Luchese C and Whilhelm EA: conceptualization, verification, resources, writing—review and editing, supervision, project administration, funding acquisition. Neto MRS; Hass S; Barboza VS; Schumacher RS; Giongo JL and Voucher RA: methodology, formal analysis.
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da Costa Rodrigues, K., da Silva Neto, M.R., dos Santos Barboza, V. et al. New curcumin-loaded nanocapsules as a therapeutic alternative in an amnesia model. Metab Brain Dis 39, 589–609 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11011-023-01329-w
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11011-023-01329-w