EFFECT OF NANOPARTICLES CONTAINING ALPHA-HUMULENE AND CURCUMIN ON PRO-INFLAMMATORY CYTOKINES

Abstract

The study investigated the neuroprotective effects of curcumin- and alpha-humulene-containing nanoparticles on neuroinflammation induced by Amyloid Beta1-42 (Aβ1-42) toxin, with the aim of evaluating the modulation of inflammatory cytokines in an experimental model of Alzheimer's disease (AD). Neuroinflammation is a key factor in the progression of AD, and the compounds studied showed potential to mitigate the detrimental effects of this process. A total of 63 Wistar rats were used, divided into six groups, treated with curcumin, alpha-humulene or their respective formulations in nanoparticles. The nanoparticles were developed to optimize bioavailability and therapeutic efficacy, aiming to cross the blood-brain barrier. Flow cytometry analyses focused on the pro-inflammatory cytokines TNF-α and IL-1 and the anti-inflammatory IL-4. The results demonstrated that treatment with curcumin and alpha-humulene nanoparticles significantly reduced TNF-α levels and increased IL-4 levels, suggesting a more favorable neuroinflammatory response. However, there was no statistically significant variation in IL-1 levels between the treated groups. The findings suggest that these nanoparticles have a promising neuroprotective effect, offering a potential therapeutic alternative for AD.