Novel solvent-free gelucire extract of Plumbago zeylanica using non-everted rat intestinal sac method for improved therapeutic efficacy of plumbagin.
BACKGROUND
Various shortcomings of the available methods of extraction of plumbagin from Plumbago zeylanica using non-edible organic solvents coupled with the poor aqueous solubility and low bioavailability called for extracting plumbagin in a water soluble form via a single step technique using hydrophilic lipid Gelucire 44/14.


METHODS
Gelucire extract of P. zeylanica (GPZ) was prepared and evaluated for extraction efficiency, High-performance thin layer chromatography (HPTLC) and thermal analysis. In vitro intestinal absorption and bioavailability of plumbagin from GPZ in comparison with that of aqueous (APZ), ethanolic extract (EPZ) and standard plumbagin studied using non-everted rat intestinal sac model.


RESULTS
The GPZ showed significantly higher extraction efficiency (3.24±0.12% w/w) compared to ethanolic (EPZ) and aqueous (APZ) extraction, 2.48±0.16% w/w and 0.07±0.02% w/w respectively. GPZ displayed significantly higher Q(30min) (cumulative percentage absorption of plumbagin in 30 min) and lower t(40%) (time required for 40% w/w drug absorption). The flux and apparent permeability coefficient in duodenum and ileum were 2, 3 and 6 fold higher than EPZ, standard plumbagin and APZ respectively.


CONCLUSIONS
Improved therapeutic efficacy of plumbagin may be due to the micellar solubilization and consequent enhanced partitioning of plumbagin through intestinal by Gelucire which was reflected in the in vivo anti-inflammatory study conducted in rats.


CONCLUSIONS
Thus extraction using Gelucire can be proclaimed as an efficient, economic and solvent-free technique for extraction of plumbagin and can be utilized for various clinically important water insoluble phytoconstituents in order to improve their biopharmaceutical properties.
Department of Phytopharmaceutics, Sharadchandra Pawar College of Pharmacy, Otur, Pune, Maharashtra 412409, India. pounbothi@yahoo.com
Chellampillai
C
Bothiraja
Atmaram P
AP
Pawar
Ganesh Y
GY
Dama
Prajakta P
PP
Joshi
Karimunnisa S
KS
Shaikh
D000818:Animals; D002351:Carrageenan; D005591:Chemical Fractionation / Q000379:methods*; D002851:Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; D007249:Inflammation / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology; D007408:Intestinal Absorption; D007413:Intestinal Mucosa / Q000378:metabolism; D007422:Intestines / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology; D059625:Liquid-Liquid Extraction / Q000379:methods; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008954:Models, Biological; D009285:Naphthoquinones / Q000032:analysis / Q000493:pharmacokinetics* / Q000494:pharmacology*; D010539:Permeability; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000032:analysis / Q000493:pharmacokinetics; D029606:Plumbaginaceae / Q000737:chemistry*; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols / Q000737:chemistry*; D051381:Rats; D023382:Toxicity Tests, Acute; D014867:Water / Q000737:chemistry
D009285:Naphthoquinones; D010936:Plant Extracts; D014867:Water; C104509:gelucire 44-14; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols; D002351:Carrageenan; C014758:plumbagin