Targeting of liposomal flavonoid to liver in combating hepatocellular oxidative damage.

The efficacy of mannosylated liposome formulations with Quercetin (QC, a flavonoid antioxidant isolated from indigenous origin) has been tested in vivo against carbon tetrachloride(CCl(4))-induced liver oxidative damage in rats. Single subcutaneous injection of CCl(4) (40% v/v in olive oil; 1 ml/kg) induces the generation of toxic oxygen radicals and results in hepatocellular damage. The increased serum enzyme levels (glutamate pyruvate transaminase, alkaline phosphatase) and hepatocellular conjugated diene levels by CCl(4) induction were significantly lowered due to pretreatment with mannosylated liposomal QC (MLQ) (0.5 ml liposomal suspension containing 0.27 mg QC), whereas the same amount of free QC was found to be ineffective. In addition, the effectiveness of MLQ on CCl(4)-induced acute liver damage also was evaluated by tissue histopathological examination. Damage produced by CCl(4) in liver reverted to normal with pretreatment of MLQ.