Chitosan-based Biocomposite Enriched with Vaccinium sect. Cyanococcus and Zingiber officinale Extracts: An Ex-vivo Evaluation of Anti-inflammatory and Antioxidant Properties

Introduction: The integration of natural polymers with bioactive botanicals offers a sustainable and multifunctional strategy for developing therapeutic biomaterials. Chitosan, a biodegradable polysaccharide with inherent antioxidant properties, serves as an effective matrix for drug delivery and tissue engineering. Vaccinium sect. Cyanococcus (blueberry) and Zingiber officinale (ginger), both rich in polyphenolic compounds, are known for their potent antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects. The rationale lies in harnessing their synergistic anti-inflammatory and antioxidant potential to create a bioactive platform for targeted tissue regeneration and oxidative stress modulation in clinical applications. Aim: To formulate and evaluate a chitosan-based biocomposite enriched with blueberry and ginger extracts for its ex-vivo antiinflammatory and antioxidant activity. Materials and Methods: The present laboratory-based exvivo study was conducted at the Department of Periodontics, Saveetha Dental College, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India. from January to March 2025. Powdered blueberry and ginger (2 g each) were extracted in distilled water at 50-60°C, filtered, and condensed. Chitosan was solubilised in 1% acetic acid, and the plant extracts were gradually incorporated under constant mechanical stirring. The resulting biocomposite was evaluated using three anti-inflammatory assays-Bovine Serum Albumin (BSA) protein denaturation, egg albumin denaturation, and Human Red Blood Cell (HRBC) membrane stabilisation- and three antioxidant assays- 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging, hydrogen peroxide scavenging, and Ferric Reducing Antioxidant Power (FRAP). All tests were performed in triplicate. Statistical analysis was conducted using IBM Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 23.0 with independent t-tests between test and control groups where p<0.05 was considered to be significant. Results: The biocomposite demonstrated a pronounced, concentration-dependent anti-inflammatory action, with 83.54±1.2% inhibition at 50 μg/mL in the BSA model. Notable suppression was also observed in albumin denaturation and erythrocyte protection. Antioxidant assessments indicated strong scavenging and reducing capabilities, evidenced by DPPH and FRAP values of 90.36±1.4% and 83.29±1.5%, respectively, and H2 O2 neutralisation around 80.21±1.3% at the highest concentration. Conclusion: This phytochemical-enriched chitosan biocomposite demonstrates promising ex-vivo anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties, supporting its potential for biomedical applications in oxidative stress modulation and tissue regeneration.