A design of Tetrastigma hemsleyanum's flavonoid loaded polyvinylpyrrolidone nanoparticles for improving its bioavailability and biological activities

Flavonoids in plant extracts exhibit significant biological activities but are limited by their low bioavailability. This research aimed to improve the functional properties by synthesizing polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) nanoparticles using flavonoids derived from T. hemsleyanum. 208 flavonoids were identified using ultrahigh-performance-mass/mass spectrometry and used for nanoparticle preparation. The nanoparticles exhibited 24 % and 55 % higher equilibrium dissolution rates in simulated intestinal and gastric fluids than free flavonoids. With spherical morphologies, 100 nm size and - 26.7 mV zeta potential, these nanoparticles showed remarkable improvements in biological activities, including 1.5-fold enhancement in antioxidant capacity, HeLa cell inhibition, and antimicrobial efficacy, and a 5-fold increase in anti-inflammatory effects compared to unencapsulated flavonoids. This research has established a methodological system that could effectively enhance the utilization rate of flavonoids in plant extracts, offering promising potential for application in functional foods.