Abstract
Ganoderic acid has been known as a key bioactive constituent in Ganoderma lucidum, commonly used for preventing and treating hepatopathy of various etiologies. This study was designed to investigate the hepatoprotective and antioxidant activity of ganoderic acid loaded solid lipid nanoparticles in d-galactosamine induced hepatotoxicity in male Wistar rats. Ganoderic acid loaded solid lipid nanoparticles was prepared by solvent injection technique and prepared formulation was characterized for various parameters and final formulation evaluated for its hepatoprotective study in Wistar rats. The prepared optimized formulation presented particle size of 122.7 ± 8.6 nm with polydispersity index of 0.27 ± 0.03 and zeta potential of −18 ± 1.4 mV. The drug loading, entrapment efficiency and nanoparticle yield were found to be 21.6 ± 1.23%, 70.16 ± 3.21% and 60.5 ± 2.75%, respectively. In vitro release study of ganoderic acid from nanoparticles at pH 7.4 exhibited biphasic release pattern with an initial burst release followed by a sustained release. Treatment of rats with prepared formulation significantly restored the levels of serum hepatic markers and antioxidant enzymes as compared to free ganoderic acid in d-galactosamine induced hepatotoxicity in rats. Histopathological examination also supported a marked hepatoprotective effect of prepared formulation. In conclusion, nano-formulation of ganoderic acid has significantly attenuated markers of hepatic damage compared to free ganoderic acid and may represent a potential hepatoprotective nano-formulation for amelioration of d-galactosamine induced liver injury.
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