title: Preparation and characterisation of andrographolide niosomes and its anti-hepatocellular carcinoma activity.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  In this study, a novel andrographolide (AG) preparation formulation, niosomes, was prepared to improve the bioavailability and tissue distribution of AG.
  
  
  METHODS
  The niosomal formulation of AG was prepared by film hydration/sonication method and tissue distribution was measured by liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS) method in mice, and anti-hepatocellular carcinoma (anti-HCC) activity was examined by MTT method in HepG2.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Entrapment efficiency, drug-loading ratio and average particle size of AG niosomes were 72.36%, 5.90% and 206 nm, respectively. The tissue distribution in mice demonstrated that the AG niosomes were absorbed in liver much more than the free AG. Furthermore, the anti-HCC activity in HepG2 cells showed that there was no significant difference between free AG and AG niosomes.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The present results suggest that AG niosomes may have a significant potential of liver targeting, which is valuable in chemotherapy of HCC.
authors.affiliation: Guangdong Provincial Institute of Traditional Chinese Medicine , Guangzhou , China.
authors.forename: Y S
authors.initials: YS
authors.lastname: Tu
authors.forename: D M
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Sun
authors.forename: J J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Z Q
authors.initials: ZQ
authors.lastname: Jiang
authors.forename: Y X
authors.initials: YX
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: X H
authors.initials: XH
authors.lastname: Zeng
authors.forename: D E
authors.initials: DE
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Yao
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal / Q000737:chemistry / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000494:pharmacology; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000737:chemistry / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000494:pharmacology; D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D004224:Diterpenes / Q000737:chemistry / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000494:pharmacology; D056945:Hep G2 Cells; D006801:Humans; D008081:Liposomes; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D051379:Mice
chemical_list: D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D004224:Diterpenes; D008081:Liposomes; C030419:andrographolide
keywords: Andrographolide; anti-HCC activity; niosomes; tissue distribution