Wild-Grown Romanian Helleborus purpurascens Approach to Novel Chitosan Phyto-Nanocarriers—Metabolite Profile and Antioxidant Properties

[Panciu Corina-Maria]

Helleborus purpurascens Waldst. & Kit. (Helleborus purpurascens L.) from the Ranunculaceae family has been used as a medicinal plant in Romanian and European ethnomedicine for centuries . One of the first mentions of the therapeutic effect of this plant occurs in Diseases of Women by Hippocrates. Also, the use of the plant in Dacian medicine is reported in De Materia Medica. In traditional European medicine, hellebore is used for its antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, antitumor, cardiotonic, analgesic, antiseizure, laxative and other effects. Modern Romanian studies from the end of the last century have demonstrated the therapeutic potential of the plant in the treatment of severe forms of rheumatism. Recent research has confirmed their unique antitumor and immunomodulating activity. 

The undertaken study describes the low-molecular-mass metabolite profiling of Helleborus purpurascens growing wild in Romania. The biological activities of each category of phytoconstituents were discussed. Furthermore, a new phyto-carrier system (hellebore-AgNPs system) with unique physical–chemical characteristics and high antioxidant activity was prepared. The encapsulation potential of the plant samples (i.e., hellebore) and new phyto-carrier system (hellebore-AgNPs system) in chitosan nanoparticles (CNs) was evaluated. The development of two new phyto-nanocarriers, HC and HAgC, was confirmed through FTIR, EDX, XRD, DLS and SEM studies. The thermal stability was investigated. Several different antioxidant assays (DPPH, Folin–Ciocalteu, phosphomolybdate (total antioxidant capacity) and iron(III)-phenanthroline antioxidant) were carried out to ensure that HC and HAgC exhibited potent antioxidant activity. Collectively, this study shows the potential advantages of these phyto-nanocarriers encapsulated as selective therapeutic delivery systems. Nonetheless, further studies are necessary to investigate the in vitro release, biological properties and bioavailability of these new phyto-nanocarriers.

Wild-Grown Romanian Helleborus purpurascens Approach to Novel Chitosan Phyto-Nanocarriers—Metabolite Profile and Antioxidant Properties