Abstract Rationale Inhaled corticosteroids, including budesonide (BUD), serve as first-line treatments for asthma. However, their clinical application is limited by poor lung target and systemic side effects. As a traditional precious Chinese medicine, ginseng and its active components (such as ginsenosides) exhibit multiple outstanding physiological activities including anti-inflammatory, antioxidant and antitumor effects, demonstrating significant potential in preventing and treating various diseases. This study developed ginseng-derived nanoparticles (GDNPs) as a novel carrier system aiming to enhance anti-inflammatory properties and reducing adverse effects. By integrating traditional Chinese medicine with modern nanotechnology, this approach addresses key clinical challenges associated with budesonide, such as systemic side effects. Methods Ginseng-Derived Nanoparticles Loaded with Budesonide (BUD@GDNPs) were prepared using ultracentrifugation. The nanoparticles were characterized for size, zeta potential, and morphology through dynamic light scattering (DLS) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Therapeutic efficacy was evaluated in a house dust mite (HDM)-induced mouse model of asthma by assessing bronchial alveolar lavage fluid (BALF) cell counts, hematoxylin and eosin (HE) staining, periodic acid-schiff (PAS) staining and Th2 cytokine levels via qPCR. Fasting blood glucose and glucose tolerance tests were monitored during an 8-week high-dose budesonide administration period. Results HE staining revealed no significant organ damage in healthy mice treated with BUD, GDNP or BUD@GDNP, indicating favorable safety profiles across all treatment groups. In the HDM-stimulated asthma model, significant pulmonary inflammation and excessive mucus generation were observed. HE staining and PAS staining revealed that the BUD@GDNP group significantly alleviated airway inflammation and mucus secretion compared to the free budesonide group. Additionally, the BUD@GDNP group reduced total inflammatory cell counts and eosinophil numbers in BALF and decreased expression levels of type 2 inflammatory cytokine mRNAs. Furthermore, in healthy mice administered high-dose budesonide and BUD@GDNPs, high-dose budesonide treatment was observed to elevate fasting blood glucose levels and impair glucose tolerance. Compared to the free high-dose budesonide group, the BUD@GDNPs group effectively reduced fasting blood glucose levels and the expression of hepatic gluconeogenesis markers Pck1 and G6pc, while also improving high-dose budesonide-induced impaired glucose tolerance. Conclusion BUD@GDNPs were developed as an efficient nano-carrier system that enhances therapeutic efficacy while minimizing systemic adverse reactions. This innovative approach integrating traditional herbal medicine with modern nanotechnology demonstrates promising prospects for advanced asthma treatment strategies with improved safety profiles. This abstract is funded by: None
Wu et al. (Fri,) studied this question.