DEVELOPMENT AND IN-VITRO EVALUATION OF PHYTOSOMES CONTAINING HERBAL EXTRACT OF CENTELLA ASIATICA FOR ANTIULCER AND ANTIOXIDANT ACTIVITY

Abstract

Herbal medications have a diverse range of active constituents allowing us to use them in a variety of ways, but active constituents are poorly absorbed due to their strong polarity and low lipophilicity, resulting in low bioavailability. The aim of this research was to improve bioavailability by development and in-vitro evaluation of phytosomes containing herbal extract of Centella asiatica for its antioxidant and gastroprotective activity. Phytosomes of Centella asiatica were prepared by reflex method and further it is characterized and evaluated. The complex formation was estimated by FTIR analysis and drug content and drug entrapment efficiency of phytosomes was achieved to be 91.6% and 84.3% respectively. The mean diameter was found to be 854.2 nm and zeta potential 28.4 mV was found. It indicates that the in-vitro drug release of Centella asiatica were higher in comparison to the formulation complex i.e., 100% and 77.6%. The release kinetics of the optimized phytosomal formulation (F3) best fitted and the R2 value was found to be 0.9879. The anti-oxidant activity of Centella asiatica phytosomes was superior than its hydroalcoholic extract i.e., % inhibition of phytosomal formulation is 83.55 having IC50 value 1.99 and % inhibition of hydroalcoholic drug extract was 85.31 having IC50 value 2.77. In anti-ulcer activity phytosomes was found to neutralize acid more significant as compare to standard and hydroalcoholic extract of Centella asiatica. The results indicated that the prepared phytosome could be a promising candidate for effective delivery of active constituents.