Extraction, Isolation, Characterization, and Development of Phospholipids Complex Nanocarrier for Improved...

Curcuma longa Linn. (Zingiberaceae) is a medicinal plant with significant biological activities owing to curcuminoids (CURs). Nevertheless, its low oral bioavailability because of low water solubility, inadequate absorption, short half-life, and rapid clearance hampered its clinical applications.

The study aimed to extract, isolate, characterize, and formulate the Phospholipon ®90H complex and evaluate for improved solubility, antiasthmatic and pharmacokinetic potential of CURs.

Phospholipon®90H-based complex of curcuminoids (CPLC) was synthesized via solvent evaporation technique and reported an improvement of solubility, antiasthmatic, and pharmacokinetic potential of CURs. CPLC was physico-chemically and functionally evaluated by Fourier transforms infrared spectroscopy, differential scanning calorimetry, powder x-ray diffractometry, oral bioavailability, and antiasthmatic activity.

Ethyl acetate rhizome extracts (EARE) displayed ~17.42 % w/w extraction yield of CURs. CPLC revealed high entrapment of CURs (~ 92.55 % w/w) within the polar head of phospholipids. Small particle size ~ 194 nm with zeta potential value ~ -20.4 mV suggests the physical stability of CPLC. Physical analysis evidenced the formation of stable and amorphous CPLC by establishing hydrophobic and weak intermolecular forces between CURs and Phospholipon ®90H. Undoubtedly, the amorphous CPLC raised the aqueous solubility of CURs (~2-fold) compared to pure CURs. CPLC formulations (~ 20 mg/kg of CURs, p.o.) significantly lowered the leucocyte and eosinophil count compared to pure CURs. CPLC improved the oral bioavailability of CURs compared to pure CURs.

Results highlight that CPLC could be established as a breakthrough respiratory nanocarrier for CURs and other phytocompounds with respiratory potential.