Development and evaluation of phytosome-loaded microsphere system for delivery of ginseng extract

Abstract

The current research work focuses mainly on evolving a delivery system for ginseng extract (GE), which in turn will ameliorate the neuroprotective potential through enhancing the Ginsenoside Rb1(GRb1) bioavailability (BA). Phytosome complexes (F1, F2, and F3) were prepared by reacting GE with phospholipids in disparate ratios. F3 was chosen for preparing the phytosomes powder (PP) and phytosomes-loaded microspheres (PMs). Extract microspheres (EMs) were prepared by the addition of extract directly into the same polymer mixture. F3 gave enhanced entrapment efficiency (50.61%, w/w) along with spherical-shaped particle size (42.58 ± 1.4 nm) with the least polydispersity index (0.193 ± 0.01). PM showed an enhanced relative bioavailability (157.94%) of GRb1. It also showed a greater neuroprotective potential exhibiting significant (p < 0.05) augmentation in the nociceptive threshold. It was concluded that the PM system might be an optimistic and feasible strategy to enhance the delivery of GE for the effectual treatment of neuropathy.

Keywords:

• Panax ginseng
• ginsenoside
• phytosomes
• neuroprotective
• saponins

Acknowledgements

The authors are thankful to the management of ITS College of Pharmacy for providing the research facility for this project. This research did not receive any specific grant from funding agencies in the public, commercial, or not-for-profit sectors.

Disclosure statement

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

Author contributions

The manuscript was written through the contributions of all authors. All authors have approved the final version of the manuscript.