Liquiritin-Hydroxypropyl-Beta-Cyclodextrin Inclusion Complex: Preparation, Characterization, Bioavailability and Antitumor Activity Evaluation

Abstract

The pharmacological activities of liquiritin (LT) are greatly limited by its insolubility and low oral absorption. The purpose of this study was to prepare LT-hydroxypropyl-beta-cyclodextrin inclusion complex (LT-HP-β-CD) to increase water solubility, oral bioavailability and antitumor effect of LT. Herein, saturated aqueous solution method was applied to prepare the LT-HP-β-CD prior to characterization via scanning electron microscope (SEM), infrared radiation (IR) spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction analysis (XRD), and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). Also, in vitro release and in vivo pharmacokinetics were evaluated. Moreover, the anti-tumor activity of the formulation was investigated in the A549 lung cancer cells. The results of SEM, IR, XRD and DSC showed that LT-HP-β-CD was successfully formulated. In vitro release and oral bioavailability of LT-HP-β-CD compared with the free LT was significantly higher. Successfully, antitumor effect of LT was remarkably enhanced by the preparation of LT-HP-β-CD. Altogether, the LT-HP-β-CD represents a potential carrier for enhancing the water solubility and oral bioavailability of LT coupled with antitumor activity enhancement.