Intestinal mucositis, characterized by inflammatory and/or ulcerative processes in the gastrointestinal tract, occurs due to cellular and tissue damage following treatment with 5-fluorouracil (5-FU). Rutin (RUT), a natural flavonoid extracted from Dimorphandra gardneriana, exhibits antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, cytoprotective, and gastroprotective properties. However, the effect of RUT on inflammatory processes in the intestine, especially on mucositis promoted by antineoplastic agents, has not yet been reported. In this study, we investigated the role of RUT on 5-FU-induced experimental intestinal mucositis. Swiss mice were randomly divided into seven groups: Saline, 5-FU, RUT-50, RUT-100, RUT-200, Celecoxib (CLX), and CLX + RUT-200 groups. The mice were weighed daily. After treatment, the animals were euthanized and segments of the small intestine were collected to evaluate histopathological alterations (morphometric analysis); malondialdehyde (MDA), myeloperoxidase (MPO), and glutathione (GSH) concentrations; mast and goblet cell counts; and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) activity, as well as to perform immunohistochemical analyses. RUT treatment (200 mg/kg) prevented 5-FU-induced histopathological changes and reduced oxidative stress by decreasing MDA concentrations and increasing GSH concentrations. RUT attenuated the inflammatory response by decreasing MPO activity, intestinal mastocytosis, and COX-2 expression. These results suggest that the COX-2 pathway is one of the underlying protective mechanisms of RUT against 5-FU-induced intestinal mucositis.

Pluronics® molecules self-assemble in aqueous solution providing a core/shell architecture that improves the solubility of hydrophobic drugs. Binary mixtures of Pluronics® have been studied as drug nanocarriers in order to combine their advantages, like high colloidal stability, small particle size and good solubilisation capacity (S_cp). In this work we studied Pluronics® binary mixture, P123 and F127, as nanocarriers of the hydrophobic drug griseofulvin. P123 (E₂₁P₆₇E₂₁) shows a relative good S_cp, whereas F127 (E₉₈P₆₇E₉₈) shows a good colloidal stability. According to data, these binary mixtures form stables nano-sized comicelles in aqueous solution. The S_cp of the P123/F127 systems at 25 and 37 °C was monitored by UV/Visible spectroscopy, showing good results at both temperatures, as would be expected, since P123/F127 have similar length hydrophobic block. Hydrophobic-dependence and temperature-responsive of the systems were evaluated by CMC, particle size and colloidal stability. Hence, stables P123/F127 comicelles may have potencial as hydrophobic drug delivery.