Pharmacokinetic, toxicokinetic, and bioavailability studies of epigallocatechin-3-gallate loaded solid lipid nanoparticle in rat model

Abstract

Epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG), derived from green tea, is an active phytochemical against many types of cancer, cardiovascular, neurological and inflammatory diseases. However, its pharmaceutical activity is limited due to low bioavailability and chemical instability. To overcome these limitations, we fabricated spherical, EGCG loaded solid lipid nanoparticles (SLN-EGCG) as an oral delivery system. The SLN-EGCG showed a hydrodynamic diameter of 300.2 ± 3.8 nm with the drug encapsulation efficiency of 81 ± 1.4%. Additionally, a slow and sustained release of EGCG was noted. Mathematical modeling of release kinetic data suggested that the SLN-EGCG followed the Higuchi model and released EGCG via fickian diffusion method. The data on pharmacokinetic parameters indicated significantly improved bioavailability and protection of EGCG from degradation due to encapsulation into SLN. The SLN-EGCG did not show any acute or sub-chronic toxicity when compared with free EGCG in the rat model. Together these data supported the hypothesis that SLN-EGCG is capable of enhancing the bioavailability and stability of EGCG and can be used as an alternative system for oral administration of EGCG.

Keywords:

• Solid lipid nanoparticle
• EGCG
• bioavailability
• sustained release
• pharmacokinetics
• toxicokinetics

Acknowledgments

The authors are also thankful to the management of VIT for providing necessary facilities and Sun Pharmaceutical Industrial limited, India for analysis of samples.

Disclosure statement

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by the National Tea Research Foundation, Tea Board, Kolkata.