SMEDDS for improved oral bioavailability and anti-hyperuricemic activity of licochalcone A

Abstract

The aim of this study was to develop licochalcone A-loaded self-microemulsifying drug delivery system (LCA-SMEDDS) to improve bioavailability and anti-hyperuricemic activity of hydrophobic natural compound licochalcone A (LCA). The prepared LCA-SMEDDS was characterised by transmission electron microscopy analysis, particle size, polymer dispersity index (PDI), zeta potential, stability tests and in vitro release analysis. LCA-SMEDDS and free LCA were orally administered to Sprague-Dawley rats to investigate respective bioavailability. The hyperuricaemia rat model was established to evaluate anti-hyperuricemic activity. The particle size, PDI, and zeta potential of LCA-SMEDDS were 25.68 ± 0.79 nm, 0.074 ± 0.024, −14.37 ± 2.17 mV. The oral bioavailability of LCA-SMEDDS was increased 2.36-fold compared with the free LCA. The uric acid level of LCA-SMEDDS group (200 mg/kg) was decreased 60.08% compared with model control group. The developed LCA-SMEDDS could be an outstanding candidate for improving oral bioavailability and anti-hyperuricemic activity of LCA.

Keywords:

• Licochalcone A
• SMEDDS (self-microemulsifying drug delivery system)
• bioavailability
• anti-hyperuricemic activity

Acknowledgements

The authors thank the JiangSu University Ethics Committee for the kind guidance in the animal experiments.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by the [National Key R&D Program of China#1] under Grant [number 2018YFE0208600]; and [National Natural Science Foundation of China#2] under Grant [number 81720108030].