title: Preparation, characterization and in vivo evaluation of bergenin-phospholipid complex.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To prepare a bergenin-phospholipid complex (BPC) to increase oral bioavailability of the drug.
  
  
  METHODS
  In order to obtain the acceptable BPC, a spherical symmetric design-response surface methodology was used for process optimization. The influence of reaction medium, temperature, drug concentration and drug-to-phospholipid ratio on the combination percentage and content of bergenin in BPC were evaluated. BPC was then characterized by thin-layer chromatography (TLC), high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), ultra-violet (UV) spectroscopy, fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and X-ray powder diffraction. The physicochemical properties such as microscopic shape, particle size, zeta-potential, solubility, crystalline form, and hygroscopicity were tested. The pharmacokinetic characteristics and bioavailability of BPC were investigated after oral administration in rats in comparison to bergenin and the physical mixture (bergenin and phospholipids).
  
  
  RESULTS
  BPC was successfully prepared under the optimum conditions [temperature=60 degrees C, drug concentration=80 g/L and drug-to-phospholipids ratio=0.9 (w/w)]. The combination percentage was 100.00%+/-0.20%, and the content of bergenin in the complex was 45.98%+/-1.12%. Scanning electron microscopy and transmission electron microscopy of BPC showed spherical particles. The average particle size was 169.2+/-20.11 nm and the zeta-potential was -21.6+/-2.4 mV. The solubility of BPC in water and in n-octanol was effectively enhanced. The C(max) and AUC(0-->infinity) of BPC were increased, and the relative bioavailability was significantly increased to 439% of bergenin.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The BPC is a valuable delivery system to enhance the oral absorption of bergenin.
authors: Key Laboratory of Drug Targeting and Drug Delivery System, Ministry of Education, West China School of Pharmacy, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China.
authors: Xuan
authors: X
authors: Qin
authors: Yang
authors: Y
authors: Yang
authors: Ting-ting
authors: TT
authors: Fan
authors: Tao
authors: T
authors: Gong
authors: Xiao-ning
authors: XN
authors: Zhang
authors: Yuan
authors: Y
authors: Huang
mesh_terms: D020003:1-Octanol; D000284:Administration, Oral; D000818:Animals; D019540:Area Under Curve; D001578:Benzopyrans / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000737:chemistry / Q000493:pharmacokinetics*; D001682:Biological Availability; D003460:Crystallization; D008297:Male; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; D046529:Microscopy, Electron, Transmission; D010316:Particle Size; D010743:Phospholipids / Q000737:chemistry*; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D012995:Solubility; D012997:Solvents / Q000737:chemistry*; D013696:Temperature; D014867:Water / Q000737:chemistry; D017155:Wettability
chemical_list: D001578:Benzopyrans; D010743:Phospholipids; D012997:Solvents; D014867:Water; C006741:bergenin; D020003:1-Octanol