Cytoprotective and antioxidant effects of free and nanostructured quercetin in tert-butyl hydroperoxide-induced cell damage

Authors

  • Alla I. Potapovich Belarusian State University, 4 Niezaliezhnasci Avenue, Minsk 220030, Belarus
  • Tatyana V. Kostyuk Belarusian State University, 4 Niezaliezhnasci Avenue, Minsk 220030, Belarus
  • Tatsiana G. Shutava Institute of Chemistry of New Materials, National Academy of Sciences of Belarus, 36 F. Skaryny Street, Minsk 220141, Belarus
  • Tatsiana V. Ramanouskaya Belarusian State University, 4 Niezaliezhnasci Avenue, Minsk 220030, Belarus
  • Vladimir A. Kostyuk Belarusian State University, 4 Niezaliezhnasci Avenue, Minsk 220030, Belarus

Keywords:

HaCaT keratinocytes, tert-butyl hydroperoxide, quercetin, gelatin nanoparticles, oxidative stress, flow cytometry
Supporting Agencies
The work was carried out within the framework of the state programme of scientific research «Convergence-2025» (assignment 3.03.11).

Abstract

The cytoprotective and antioxidant effects of quercetin introduced into the cultural medium in the form of a solution in dimethyl sulfoxide and as an aqueous suspension of quercetin-loaded gelatin nanoparticles were investigated. Oxidative stress in HaCaT keratinocytes was induced by the addition of tert-butyl hydroperoxide. Its presence was determined by a decrease in intracellular levels of reduced glutathione and SH groups of proteins. The studied preparations were introduced into the serum-free DMEM medium immediately prior to tert-butyl hydroperoxide addition. Cell damage was assessed by measuring lactate dehydrogenase release and through live and dead cell assays. Apoptotic and necrotic cells were identified via flow cytometry using the staining kit containing FITC-labelled annexin V and propidium iodide. The results demonstrate that both free and nanostructured quercetin effectively mitigate oxidative damage and cell death induced by tert-butyl hydroperoxide. These findings suggest that incorporating quercetin into gelatin nanoparticles allows the use of this substance in aqueous suspensions without compromising its antioxidant properties and cytoprotective activity.

Author Biographies

  • Alla I. Potapovich, Belarusian State University, 4 Niezaliezhnasci Avenue, Minsk 220030, Belarus

    PhD (biology), docent; leading researcher at the laboratory of physiology, department of human and animal physiology, faculty of biology

  • Tatyana V. Kostyuk, Belarusian State University, 4 Niezaliezhnasci Avenue, Minsk 220030, Belarus

    researcher at the laboratory of physiology, department of human and animal physiology, faculty of biology

  • Tatsiana G. Shutava, Institute of Chemistry of New Materials, National Academy of Sciences of Belarus, 36 F. Skaryny Street, Minsk 220141, Belarus

    PhD (chemistry), docent; leading researcher at the laboratory of materials and technologies of LCD devices

  • Tatsiana V. Ramanouskaya, Belarusian State University, 4 Niezaliezhnasci Avenue, Minsk 220030, Belarus
    PhD (biology), docent; associate professor at the department of genetics, faculty of biology
  • Vladimir A. Kostyuk, Belarusian State University, 4 Niezaliezhnasci Avenue, Minsk 220030, Belarus

    doctor of science (chemistry), full professor; head of the laboratory of physiology, department of human and animal physiology, faculty of biology

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Published

2025-11-10

Issue

No. 2 (2025): Experimental Biology and Biotechnology

Section

Physiology and Сell Biology

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How to Cite

Potapovich, A. I., Kostyuk, T. V., Shutava, T. G., Ramanouskaya, T. V., & Kostyuk, V. A. (2025). Cytoprotective and antioxidant effects of free and nanostructured quercetin in tert-butyl hydroperoxide-induced cell damage. Experimental Biology and Biotechnology, 2, 16-24. https://doi.org/10.33581/2957-5060-2025-2-%p