Abstract
Palm oil is natural oil packed with important compounds and fatty acids ready to be exploited in lipid-based formulations and drug delivery. Palm oil and palm kernel oil contain long-chain and medium-chain triglycerides, respectively, including phytonutrients such as tocotrienol, tocopherol and carotenes. The exploitation of these compounds in a lipid-based formulation would be able to address hydrophobicity, lipophilicity, poor bioavailability and low water-solubility of many current drugs. The utilisation of palm oil as part of the drug delivery system seemed to improve the bioavailability and solubility of the drug, stabilising emulsification of formulation between emulsifier and surfactant, promoting enhanced drug permeability and performance, as well as extending the shelf-life of the drug. Despite the complexity in designing lipid-based formulations, palm oil has proven to offer dynamic behaviour in providing versatility in drug design, form and delivery. However, the knowledge and application of palm oil and its fractions in lipid-based formulation are scarce and interspersed. Therefore, this study aims to focus on the research and outcomes of using palm oil in lipid-based formulations and drug delivery systems, due to the importance of establishing its capabilities and benefits.
Highlights
The global demand for oil from palm tree Elaeis guineensis has increased compared to other types of oil and fats
As crude palm kernel oil (CPKO) is refined and has undergone fractionation, the volume of saturated fatty acids (FAs) increased with the major portion of these FAs in the C12 to C18 configuration, suggesting they mainly consist of medium-chain triglycerides (MCT), except for Palm kernel oil ester (PKOE)
Digestion and emulsification in both self-microemulsifying drug delivery system (SMEDDS) and self-microemulsifying (SMEDDS) to self-nanoemulsifying (SNEDDS) are not required as these types of formulations are able to self-emulsify effectively, producing particles with a small-enough size to be readily absorbed in the gastrointestinal tract (GIT)
Summary
The global demand for oil from palm tree Elaeis guineensis has increased compared to other types of oil and fats. Further identifications and formulations should be investigated in marketing palm oil-based pharmaceutical products as the level of phytonutrients, such as tocotrienol, tocopherol, β-carotenes and fatty acids, are shown to surpass other vegetable oils. RBD PO is a saturated long-chain FA oil with oleic acid as its major component. Other FAs in a lower proportion, with of less than 10% detected, were caprylic acid, capric acid, palmitic acid, stearic acid, oleic acid and linoleic acid [45] These values were supported by another study by Dian et al [46]. As CPKO is refined and has undergone fractionation, the volume of saturated FA increased with the major portion of these FAs in the C12 to C18 configuration, suggesting they mainly consist of medium-chain triglycerides (MCT), except for PKOE
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