Synthesis and characterization of chitosan nanoparticles of Achillea millefolium L. and their activities

Abstract

<ns3:p> <ns3:bold>Background:</ns3:bold> <ns3:italic>Achillea millefolium</ns3:italic> L. is an herbal aromatic plant of family Asteraceae reported to have various medicinal activities in the literature. The current study evaluated the potential of chitosan nanoparticles of <ns3:italic>A. millefolium</ns3:italic> as an effective strategy for targeted treatment of bacterial diseases and urolithiasis. </ns3:p> <ns3:p> <ns3:bold>Methods:</ns3:bold> <ns3:italic>A. millefolium</ns3:italic> was collected from Poonch, Jammu and Kashmir, and its inflorescence extracted in water by maceration. Chitosan nanoparticles of <ns3:italic>A. millefolium</ns3:italic> (AMCSNPs) were prepared by ionic gelation method using 0.1% chitosan, different concentrations of the cross-linking agent sodium tripolyphosphate (STPP; 0.5%, 1%, 1.5%, 2%) and different concentrations of <ns3:italic>A. millefolium</ns3:italic> extract (0.5%, 1%, 1.5%, 2%). Characterization of AMCSNPs was done using UV-Vis spectroscopy, Fourier transform-infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy, dynamic light scattering (DLS) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Antibacterial screening of AMCSNPs was performed by well-diffusion method. Antiurolithiatic screening of AMCSNPs was done by nucleation and aggregation assay. </ns3:p> <ns3:p> <ns3:bold>Results:</ns3:bold> The best chitosan nanoparticles of <ns3:italic>A. millefolium</ns3:italic> (AMCSNPs) were obtained with 0.1% chitosan, 1% STPP and 20% <ns3:italic>A. millefolium.</ns3:italic> These AMCSNPs showed maximum zone of inhibition of 30±0.5 mm using the well-diffusion method against both <ns3:italic>Bacillus subtilis</ns3:italic> (Gram-positive) and <ns3:italic>Pseudomonas aeruginosa</ns3:italic> (Gram-negative) and maximum antiurolithiatic activity with 68% inhibition shown at aggregation stage. </ns3:p> <ns3:p> <ns3:bold>Conclusions:</ns3:bold> The current study suggests that AMCSNPs are an excellent strategy for targeted drug delivery for treatment of bacterial diseases and urolithiasis. </ns3:p>

Topics & Concepts