According to the Fundacion Descubre, this is the first study that focuses on the use of natural compounds extracted from berries (Sorbus americana and Vaccinium sp.) that do not harm the body and possess certain properties that can reduce the side effects associated with the treatment of diseases such as cancer.
These compounds also help transport the drugs through the blood without harming the body and are also environmentally friendly, as they reduce the consumption or reagent drugs and the associated generation of chemical waste during their production.
"The antioxidant properties of the compounds reduce the side effects because of the oxidative stress produced in conventional therapies, i.e. of the mechanism responsible for the cell’s progressive loss of function," said Mercedes Becerra, researcher the University of Huelva.
The scientists based their research on the use of a nanotechnology technique focused on the prevention and treatment of oncological or neurodegenerative diseases.
"First, we obtained the organic compounds from the Sorbus americana and Vaccinium sp, which have antioxidant properties, in the laboratory," said Becerra.
"Then, we mixed these substances with cardanol, a natural compound from cashew that is essential in the formation of such vesicles," she added.
Thus, researchers obtained a renewable, stable, spherical vesicle that is equally functional to the ones produced by artificial methods.
After that, researchers used various laboratory techniques to extract the vesicle or carrier to see if it kept the antioxidant properties of the red fruit used in its preparation.
"These results provide new insights into the benefits of developing this type of vesicles to reduce the side effects of drugs, such as quecetin in chemotherapy, and improve the patient’s life quality," Becerra said.
"Once we improve parameters, such as morphology or diameter, we will analyse live samples in order to see if we can make these transporters work and see if these antioxidant compounds are also beneficial in samples taken from people," she said.
Source: Fresh Fruit Portal