Evaluation the Effectiveness of Green Zinc Oxide Nanoparticles on the Anti-Inflammatory Effect of Dexamethasone and Its Side Effects in Rats

Green synthesis of nanoparticles is considered an ecofriendly technology because it does not involve toxic chemicals. In this study, green zinc oxide nanoparticles (7-25 nm) were synthesized from olive plant and examined for its anti-inflammatory activities alone or with dexamethasone in rats. Seventy rats were randomly allocated into 7 groups (10 rats/group). Group 1 served as a negative control. Other rats in the six groups were injected with formalin into the intra planter paws of right hind limb (50ul) followed by administration of investigated agents as following; group 2 used as control positive for inflammation. Group 3 and 4 were administrated dexamethasone at 2 doses; 2 and 5mg/ kg b.wt. (i.m), respectively. Group 5 was treated with zinc oxide nanoparticles at dose of 25mg/ kg b.wt.(i.p). Groups 6 and 7 were treated with Zinc oxide nanoparticles at dose of 25 mg/kg b. wt. (i.p) and dexamethasone at doses of 2 and 5mg/kg b. wt. (i.m), respectively. All treatments were continuous for 5 successive days. Representative blood and tissue samples for immunological, chemical and pathological investigations were collected. The present study refers to the anti -inflammatory effect of both zinc oxide nanoparticles and dexamethasone through variable pathways; mixed treatment between green Zinc oxide nanoparticles and dexamethsone improve the dysregulated biochemical effects induced by inflammation. ZnO nano-particles affect mainly Th2 which enhanced by dexamethasone that had mainly immune- suppressive effect on B-lymphocytes. Despite the recorded anti-inflammatory effect, attention to side effects such as genotoxicity recorded in that study, should be considered. We could conclude that although green zinc oxide nanoparticles may be considered as a potential treatment for inflammatory conditions, but it enhances the apoptotic effect of dexamethasone with end-result of (transient) genotoxic effect.