Inhibitory effects of free and nano-liposomal-loaded resveratrol on sodium nitroprusside-induced rabbit chondrocyte apoptosis

Osteoarthritis (OA) is a progressive and functionally debilitating disease characterized by chondrocyte apoptosis. Resveratrol (RV, trans-3,4,5-trihydroxystilbene), a natural polyphenol compound with anti-inflammatory, has anti-OA activity. In this study, RV was loaded to nanoliposomes to form nomolipsome-RV complex (Lip-RV) which had good solubility and bioavailability. Exposure of chondrocytes to sodium nitroprusside (SNP) resulted in remarkable reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation and apoptosis. Cell viability assay, cell apoptosis detection and mitochondrial membrane potential analysis revealed that both free RV and Lip-RV remarkably suppressed SNP-induced cytotoxicity toward chondrocytes, and the protective activity of free RV was better than that of Lip-RV. We further studied the effects of free RV and Lip-RV on SNP-induced chondrocyte morphological change and generations of H₂O₂, iron ions and ROS, and found that free RV exhibited more protective effect than Lip-RV against SNP-induced oxidative damage and iron ions production. In conclusion, free RV has more profound in vitro protective effect on SNP-induced chondrocyte apoptosis than Lip-RV.