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Enhanced Pharmacokinetics and Anti-inflammatory Activity of Curcumin Using Dry Emulsion as Drug Delivery Vehicle

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European Journal of Drug Metabolism and Pharmacokinetics Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Background and Objective

Many naturally available dietary molecules such as curcumin have not seen the market due to poor solubility, bioavailability, and photodegradability. Successful development of a lipid-based dry emulsion may overcome these issues and help in reaching the markets for natural dietary molecules such as curcumin. The current study aims to develop a dry emulsion formulation of curcumin using natural oil and evaluate its dissolution, photostability, pharmacokinetics, and anti-inflammatory activity.

Methods

Dry emulsions were prepared using emu oil and corn oil as the lipid phase, Caproyl 90 and Cremophor RH 40 as surfactants, and dextrin as a hydrophilic carrier.

Results

Microscopic studies showed the formation of spherical porous particles, and solid-state characterization using differential scanning calorimetry and powder X-ray diffraction showed the conversion of curcumin to an amorphous form. About 80% drug release was observed from formulation, whereas pure drug showed only 50% drug release in 30 min. In vivo pharmacokinetic studies showed fivefold improvement in the maximum concentration of curcumin in plasma (Cmax) and sevenfold improvement in the area under the concentration-time curve of curcumin from emu oil formulation compared with pure curcumin. Significant differences were observed in the anti-inflammatory activity of curcumin dry emulsion and plain curcumin. Emu-oil-based formulations showed synergistic anti-inflammatory activity over corn-oil-based formulations with improved photostability.

Conclusion

The present study suggests that the dry emulsion may enhance the bioavailability with synergistic anti-inflammatory activity and photostability of curcumin when given orally.

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Acknowledgements

The authors would like to acknowledge the Department of Pharmaceuticals, Ministry of Chemicals, and Fertilizers for the financial support in completing the academic work.

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Author notes

  1. Naveen Chella

    Present address: Department of Pharmaceutical Technology (Formulations), National Institute of Pharmaceutical Education & Research NIPER Guwahati, Sila Village, Kamrup, Guwahati, Assam, 781101, India

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Pharmaceutics, National Institute of Pharmaceutical Education & Research, Balanagar, Hyderabad, 500037, India

    Mahesh Nayakula & Naveen Chella

  2. Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, National Institute of Pharmaceutical Education & Research, Balanagar, Hyderabad, 500037, India

    Manish Kumar Jeengar & Vegi G. M. Naidu

  3. Department of Pharmacology, Amrita School of Pharmacy, Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham, AIMS Health Sciences Campus, Kochi, Kerala, 682041, India

    Manish Kumar Jeengar

  4. Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, National Institute of Pharmaceutical Education & Research NIPER Guwahati, Sila Village, Kamrup, Guwahati, Assam, 781101, India

    Vegi G. M. Naidu

Authors
  1. Mahesh Nayakula
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Correspondence to Naveen Chella.

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Funding

No funding source was used to conduct this study.

Conflict of interest

Mahesh Nayakula, Manish Kumar Jeengar, VGM Naidu, and Naveen Chella have no conflicts of interest to declare.

Ethics Approval

All the animal studies were approved by Institute Animal Ethical Committee of NIPER Hyderabad. All institutional and national guidelines for the care of the laboratory animals were followed.

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Author contributions

N.C.: conception or design of the work, drafting and revising. M.N. and M.K.: acquisition, analysis, or interpretation of data for the work. V.G.M.N.: data analysis and interpretation.

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Nayakula, M., Jeengar, M.K., Naidu, V.G.M. et al. Enhanced Pharmacokinetics and Anti-inflammatory Activity of Curcumin Using Dry Emulsion as Drug Delivery Vehicle. Eur J Drug Metab Pharmacokinet 48, 189–199 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13318-023-00819-7

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s13318-023-00819-7

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