# Evaluation of the Hepatoprotective Efficacy of Bee Pollen and Bee Pollen Ethanolic Extract–Loaded Solid Lipid Nanoparticles Against Lead Acetate–Induced Hepatotoxicity in Male Wistar Rats

## TL;DR

This study shows that bee pollen and its nanoparticle formulation can protect the liver from lead-induced damage in rats.

## Contribution

The novel contribution is the development and evaluation of bee pollen-loaded solid lipid nanoparticles for hepatoprotective applications.

## Key findings

- Bee pollen ethanolic extract-loaded SLNs showed sustained release and improved liver enzyme levels in lead-exposed rats.
- Treatment with bee pollen SLNs significantly reduced oxidative stress markers and improved liver tissue structure.
- Bee pollen SLNs exhibited higher hepatoprotective efficacy compared to raw bee pollen in both in vitro and in vivo models.

## Abstract

Bee pollen, a natural product rich in polyphenols, exhibits remarkable antioxidant, anti‐inflammatory, and hepatoprotective properties.

This study was aimed at evaluating the hepatoprotective effects of solid lipid nanoparticles (SLNs) loaded with bee pollen.

SLNs were formulated and optimized by varying surfactant ratios and lipid contents at two different temperatures.

The optimized bee pollen SLNs demonstrated a particle size of 118.6 nm, a PdI of 0.35, a zeta potential of −22.6 mV, and an entrapment efficiency of 92.7%. The in vitro release study showed minimal release during the initial 120 min, followed by a continuous increase up to 48 h, indicating a sustained and prolonged release profile. Both bee pollen and bee pollen ethanolic extract–loaded SLNs exhibited significant cytoprotective effects against lead‐induced cytotoxicity in HepG2 cells. In vivo studies revealed that treatment with bee pollen and especially bee pollen SLNs substantially ameliorated lead‐induced hepatic injury. Treatment notably reduced serum levels of aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase, alkaline phosphatase, lactate dehydrogenase, malondialdehyde, and nitric oxide. Additionally, it enhanced the activity of glutathione peroxidase, catalase, superoxide dismutase, and total antioxidant capacity, as well as levels of total thiol, reduced glutathione, and liver tissue proteins. Histopathological analysis further confirmed that treatment, particularly with bee pollen SLNs, significantly improved lead‐induced hepatic structural damage.

These findings confirm that bee pollen, and more prominently its SLN formulation, possesses strong hepatoprotective potential.