Exploration of the optimal concentration of quercetin liposome nanoparticles for the treatment of liver damage.

Abstract

Background: Hepatic injury is a common pathological process for a wide spectrum of liver diseases. Quercetin has been found to counteract this process by scavenging free radicals, but its therapeutic effect is limited due to poor water-solubility. Thus, the question of how to deliver quercetin to a target organ effectively with minimal side effects has remained a clinical challenge. Our previous research findings indicate that when quercetin is delivered in the form of liposomal nanoparticles, its targeting efficiency to the liver is significantly enhanced. Although quercetin liposomal nanoparticles have been shown to improve the therapeutic effect on liver damage compared to traditional quercetin treatment, the optimal dosage of liposomal quercetin still warrants further exploration. The aim of this study was therefore to ascertain whether there are differences in the therapeutic effects on liver damage at different dosages of quercetin liposomes and to determine the optimal dosage.

Methods: 62 rats modeled with liver injury were enrolled and distributed into 4 groups, where they were treated with quercetin liposome nanoparticles, blank liposome nanoparticles, simple quercetin, and normal saline accordingly. Serum samples were measured for liver function indicators, and tissue samples were analyzed by pathohistological examination. Statistical analysis was performed to quantify the difference between the experimental and control groups.

Results: Both liver function and histopathological examinations demonstrated enhanced therapeutic effects as the concentration of quercetin liposome drugs increased. Moreover, compared to traditional quercetin treatments, liposomal quercetin nanoparticles of varying concentrations uniformly provide better liver protection, with the highest dose group showing the best therapeutic effect. In addition, low concentration carrier liposome nanoparticles also showed a certain protective effect on the liver damage in rats.

Conclusion: Liposomal quercetin nanoparticles exhibit superior efficacy in liver protection and repair compared to pure quercetin, with the highest dose group showing the best therapeutic effect.