Masculinizing Effects of Chrysin-Loaded Poloxamer Micelles on Siamese Fighting Fish

Siamese fighting fish (Betta splendens) are freshwater fish that are commonly found in Thailand and other Southeast Asian countries. In the present study, chrysin-loaded polymeric micelles (CPs) were developed and investigated for the masculinizing effects, survival rate, growth indices, and toxicity on Siamese fighting fish. CPs were prepared using a poloxamer. The micelle system of CPs that were formed at a chrysin-to-polymer ratio of 1:2 was found to be the most suitable monodispersed system and exhibited a nanosized diameter (74.2 ± 1.6 nm) with a narrow size distribution (0.288 ± 0.012). In vivo studies were performed using Siamese fighting fish larvae as animal models. In the in vivo toxicity study, the fish larvae were immersed in aqueous systems containing CPs that had five different chrysin concentrations of 1, 10, 100, 1000, and 10,000 ng/mL for 24, 48, and 72 h. Blank polymeric micelles and water were used as controls. The in vivo masculinization effect of CPs with different chrysin concentrations on the fish larvae was evaluated after 5 weeks of exposure. The results demonstrated that CPs with a chrysin concentration of 1000 ng/mL showed a masculinization effect of 94.59 ± 2.76% with a high fish larvae survival rate of 72.45 ± 5.09% and low toxicity. It was concluded that the developed CPs had a significant effect on the sex reversal of Siamese fighting fish larvae with a high survival rate.

The Genus Curcuma and Inflammation: Overview of the Pharmacological Perspectives

The Curcuma genus has been extensively used for therapeutic purposes in traditional or folk medicine worldwide, including for its anti-inflammatory activity. Curcuma spp.'s active constituents, such as alkaloids, flavonoids, and terpenoids, can act on various targets in the signaling pathway, restrain pro-inflammatory enzymes, lower the production of inflammatory cytokines and chemokines, and reduce oxidative stress, which subsequently suppresses inflammatory processes. Preclinical and clinical studies have reported the predominant anti-inflammatory activity of several Curcuma species. This review provides an overview of the anti-inflammatory effects of different extracts, preparations, and bioactive components in this genus. This analysis may provide a scientific basis for developing new and alternative methods for the isolation of a single entity from this genus to attenuate inflammatory conditions. The Curcuma genus is waiting for researchers interested in developing safe and efficient anti-inflammatory agents for further investigation.