Synthesis, characterization and investigation of antioxidant effect of nanoparticles from juniper (Juniperus oxycedrus L. ssp. oxycedrus) plant biopolymer

Since ancient times, human beings have begun to use plants, fungi and other living things around them for their own purposes, and over time, they have learned which ones to use for which purposes. Substances produced by plants have gained more importance than others and have begun to be purified. Most of the drugs used today are either compounds obtained from plant extracts or derivatives of these compounds. Recently, with technological developments, interest in synthesizing nanoparticles from these compounds has increased. In this study, we used fruit methanol extract (AE) of juniper (Juniperus Oxycedrus L. ssp. Oxycedrus) species, which has medicinal and different uses, amentoflavone and cuprassoflavone mixture (AC) obtained from the extract, and nanoparticles (p(AE), p(AC)) obtained from them was used. Blood compatibility tests, antibacterial and antioxidant properties of these materials were examined. Surface charge and size analysis, temperature-dependent structural degradation behavior, possible bond structures and morphological properties of the synthesized nanoparticles were examined using various instrumental analysis devices. The synthesized nanoparticles were also loaded with analgesic (parcetamol) and antikanserojen (5-fluorouracil (5-Fu) and Paclitaxel) drugs. The release behavior of these drug-loaded particles in different pH environments and different drug release kinetic models were examined. Additionally, serum biomarkers of AC and p(AC) nanoparticles, aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), urea and keratin (Cre) levels, and liver, kidney, spleen, brain, lung, blood and heart tissues were detected in rats with experimental liver damage. Catalase (CAT), glutathione reductase (GR), superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione S-transferase (GST) enzyme activities, reduced glutathione (GSH) levels and lipid peroxidation (Malondialdehyde) (MDA) levels were examined. It was determined that the Juniper fruit methanol extract, AC p(AE) and p(AC) nanoparticles used within the scope of the study were blood compatible, had antioxidant and antimicrobial properties. It was observed that 95 % paracetamol was released from paracetamol-loaded p(AE) nanoparticles. It was determined that p(AC) nanoparticles loaded with different drugs released 97 % paracetamol at pH 5.4, 90 % paclitaxel at pH 8, and 99 % 5-Fu at pH 7.4. When the drug release kinetic models of drug-loaded nanoparticles were examined, p(AE) was based on the Higuchi model at pH 7.4 for paracetamol, p(AC) was based on the Krosmeyer-Peppas model at pH 5.4 for paracetamol, p(AC) was based on the Higuchi model at pH 8 for 5-Fu, and It was observed that p(AC) followed the Krosmeyer-Peppas kinetic model for paclitaxel at pH 8. It was determined that the synthesized particles generally had a positive effect on serum biomarkers in rat applications, and although there were differences in the activity of antioxidant enzymes and GSH and MDA levels in different tissues, they had a positive effect in general.