Prayagraj: Nanoparticles derived from saffron have shown encouraging results in addressing the cellular damage caused by liver cirrhosis, according to a study published in Scientific Reports, published by Nature.The research highlights how combining a metal-based nanoparticle with a natural compound in saffron may help restore crucial biochemical functions disrupted by the disease. The paper, titled “Synthesis, characterisation, computational study, amelioration of ruthenium kesar nanoparticle, antioxidant and glycolytic enzyme activity alterations in cirrhotic liver extract”, was led by Rahul Kanaoujiya, a PhD holder from the University of Allahabad, along with 13 other co-authors from different institutions, including AU, BHU, Sagar University, etc. Prof Shekhar Srivastava of department of chemistry University of Allahabad and Prof Pratima Chauhan of department of physics, University of Allahabad, were also part of the study.The team explored the use of ruthenium dioxide nanoparticles integrated with safranal– a bioactive component found in saffron– to study their effect on liver tissue affected by cirrhosis and got very promising results. Liver cirrhosis is a progressive condition in which healthy liver tissue is scarred, restricting blood flow and impairing the organ’s ability to detoxify the body and regulate metabolism. The disease also weakens the liver’s antioxidant defence system and disrupts enzymes responsible for energy production within cells. In controlled laboratory experiments on cirrhotic albino rats, researchers first developed a stable crystalline layer of ruthenium dioxide nanoparticles. Computational studies indicated that ‘safranal’ could effectively bind with biological molecules, making it a suitable partner for the metal nanoparticles in biomedical applications. Liver samples taken from normal and cirrhotic albino rats were then exposed to the ruthenium-safranal nanoparticle complex for 24 hours. The team monitored the activity of key enzymes linked to antioxidant protection and cellular energy, particularly lactate dehydrogenase. “Results showed that cirrhosis severely altered these enzyme functions. After treatment with the saffron-infused nanoparticles, significant improvement was observed in enzyme activity and oxidative balance,” said Rahul. The findings suggest that these nanoparticles may offer a new scientific pathway to understand and potentially mitigate the biochemical damage caused by liver cirrhosis, expanding the scope of nanotechnology beyond its traditional focus on cancer research, he added.
