Title : Formulation, characterization and evaluation of phytosome of lawsone for skin application and it’s future prospects
Abstract:
Background: Lawsonia inermis L. (Lawsone) was reported to contain carbohydrates, proteins, flavonoids and phenolic compounds, alkaloids, terpenoids. The plant has also been reported to have hepatoprotective, anti-inflammatory, antiviral, antifungal and anticancer properties.
Objective: Lawsone has low bioavailability because it is less soluble in water and it is rapidly eliminated from body. The aim of this study was to prepare and evaluate the Phytosome containing lawsone.
Methods: The Phytosome (P1 – P4) containing different molar ratios (1:1, 1:2, 2:1 and 2:2) of lawsone and soya lecithin were prepared by the anti-solvent precipitation technique. The Phytosomes were evaluated for % yield, particle size analysis, % EE and characterized by FTIR, DSC and SEM. Antifungal activity of Phytosome of lawsone was evaluated on Candida albicans (NCIM 3471) fungi by using ketoconazole as standard drug. The in-vitro permeation study was carried out on rat skin. The anti-inflammatory activity was evaluated in male wistar rats.
Results and Discussion: The Phytosome of lawsone P1 and P2 showed better % yield, drug content, particle size and entrapment efficiency as compared to other Phytosome P3 and P4. The infra-red (FT-IR) and Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC) studies of Phytosome of lawsone revealed that there was no interaction between the plant drug and phospholipids. SEM data showed that Phytosome of lawsone P1 has irregular size vesicles consisting of soya lecithin and it was found to be intercalated in the lipid layer. Antifungal activity of Phytosome P1 (1:1) showed the better zone of inhibition as compared to Phytosome P2 (1:2), drug lawsone and standard drug ketoconazole after 3 days. In-vitro permeation study of Phytosome gel of lawsone (PG) through excised rat skin showed 92.91% of drug permeation up to 6 h.
Conclusion: The anti-inflammatory activity of gel of Phytosome of lawsone showed significant anti-inflammatory activity as compared to gel of drug lawsone at 4 h (P < 0.001). Further, the work is extended towards the immunity booster gel against microbial infections in the form of miceller using chitosan as a coating polymer.
