Turmeric Phyto-nanoparticle: enhanced cellular bioavailability and anti-inflammatory effect in human monocyte / macrophage model

The poor bioavailability of curcuminoids remains a major challenge due to their hydrophobic nature, which is currently being addressed through advancements in nano- and micro-emulsion technologies. Curcuminoids and other water-insoluble phyto-polyphenols offer significant health benefits as anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, anticancer, radioprotective, and neuroprotective agents. Conventional emulsion-based delivery systems; such as liposomes, micelles, or solid lipid particles; rely on various emulsifying surfactants and/or excipients, some of which may pose health risks. In this study, a novel class of all-natural, additive-free, oil-free, and emulsion-free turmeric phyto-nanoparticles (TPNPs, developed directly from turmeric rhizomes) were evaluated in human monocyte/macrophage cell-line model to assess cellular bioavailability kinetics and anti-inflammatory activity. TPNPs are enriched with curcuminoids (24.85% by mass), form a homogeneous particle population, exhibit higher antioxidant capacity, and demonstrate significantly improved cellular uptake in both monocytes and macrophages compared to standard purified curcuminoids, which also formed nanoparticles in cell culture media. The pharmacodynamic anti-inflammatory effect of TPNPs was evidenced by increased expression of the cytoprotective enzyme heme oxygenase-1 (HMOX1), and a more effective reduction in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) secretion than that achieved by standard purified curcuminoids. TPNPs may thus serve as a safe and effective curcuminoid nanocarrier.