Scientists make herb nanoparticles with potential for treating heart disease

Scientists at CSIR lab in the Indian Institute of Chemical Technology, Hyderabad have synthesised gold nanoparticles using the leaf extract of a medicinal plant that has the potential to grow new blood vessels and treat cardiovascular diseases.

Scientists at CSIR lab in the Indian Institute of Chemical Technology, Hyderabad have synthesised gold nanoparticles using the leaf extract of a medicinal plant that has the potential to grow new blood vessels and treat cardiovascular diseases.

The study was published recently in the Royal Society of Chemistry. The researchers synthesised gold nanoparticles by using the leaf extract of a medicinal herb (Hamelia patens).

"Our next step would be try it on an animal model. We have designed and developed novel pro-angiogenic bio-synthesized gold nanoconjugates that make new blood vessels, suggesting its future potential applications as an alternative treatment strategy for wound healing, cardiovascular diseases (CVD) and ischemic diseases in the near future using nanomedicine approach," lead author Chitta Ranjan Patra said.

Angiogenesis, the formation of new blood vessels from the pre-existing vasculature, plays a vital role in physiological and pathological processes such as wound healing, atherosclerosis, embryonic development, post-ischemic vascularisation of the myocardium, etc.

"Development of novel pro-angiogenic compounds that specifically stimulate angiogenesis in ischemic tissues is urgently required to combat deadly diseases. In this context, nanomedicine plays an important role in the field of biology and medicine."

The highly stable nanoparticles show good bio-compatibility and exhibit excellent pro-angiogenic activity. Considering the results altogether, these bio-synthesized nanoparticles could be useful towards the development of an alternative treatment strategy for cardiovascular diseases, ischemic diseases, and wound healing where angiogenesis plays a pivotal role, he said.

"We have chosen this medicinal HP shrub as it is used for treatment of menstrual disorders and wound healing in Mexican traditional medicine and in central America."