ABSTRACT
Objective To develop a method to determine the encapsulation efficiency of doxorubicin hydrochloride and timosaponin AIII co-loaded liposomes. Methods In this paper, the thin-film rehydration method was used to prepare doxorubicin hydrochloride and timosaponin AIII co-loaded liposomes. Liposomes and free drugs were separated by dialysis, gel microcolumn centrifugation, and ultra-high speed centrifugation. The content of free drugs and drugs in liposomes was determined by HPLC, and the entrapment efficiency of doxorubicin hydrochloride and timosaponin AIII co-loaded liposomes was calculated. Results The optimal formulation of doxorubicin hydrochloride and timosaponin AIII co-loaded liposomes was DPPC-DSPE-PEG2000-TAIII-DOX with a molar ratio of 5:1:1:1. The liposomes prepared using thin-film rehydration method had a well-defined spherical shape with a size of (55.4 ± 0.40) nm, a PDI of (0.20 ± 0.02), and a weakly negative zeta potential of (-17.4 ± 0.6) mV. The excipients in the liposomal formulation can be well separated from doxorubicin hydrochloride and timosaponin AIII in the selected chromatographic conditions. The calibrated linear curve of doxorubicin hydrochloride was within 24.9-498.0 μg/mL (r = 0.999 9) and that of timosaponin AIII was within 50.55-1 011.0 μg/mL (r = 0.999 6). Free doxorubicin hydrochloride and timosaponin AIII were well separated from liposome by gel microcolumn centrifugation, and the encapsulation efficiency of doxorubicin hydrochloride and timosaponin AIII was (85.12 ± 1.27)% and (76.51 ± 0.46)% respectively. Conclusion The thin-film dispersion- method can be used for the preparation of doxorubicin hydrochloride and timosaponin AIII co-loaded liposomes. The method of gel microcolumn centrifugation is accurate, reproducible, simple, and suitable for determination of the encapsulation efficiency of co-loaded liposomes.
ABSTRACT
Investigations into the development of new therapeutic agents for lung inflammatory disorders have led to the discovery of plant-based alternatives. The rhizomes of Anemarrhena asphodeloides have a long history of use against lung inflammatory disorders in traditional herbal medicine. However, the therapeutic potential of this plant material in animal models of lung inflammation has yet to be evaluated. In the present study, we prepared the alcoholic extract and derived the saponin-enriched fraction from the rhizomes of A. asphodeloides and isolated timosaponin A-III, a major constituent. Lung inflammation was induced by intranasal administration of lipopolysaccharide (LPS) to mice, representing an animal model of acute lung injury (ALI). The alcoholic extract (50–200 mg/kg) inhibited the development of ALI. Especially, the oral administration of the saponin-enriched fraction (10–50 mg/kg) potently inhibited the lung inflammatory index. It reduced the total number of inflammatory cells in the bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF). Histological changes in alveolar wall thickness and the number of infiltrated cells of the lung tissue also indicated that the saponin-enriched fraction strongly inhibited lung inflammation. Most importantly, the oral administration of timosaponin A-III at 25–50 mg/kg significantly inhibited the inflammatory markers observed in LPS-induced ALI mice. All these findings, for the first time, provide evidence supporting the effectiveness of A. asphodeloides and its major constituent, timosaponin A-III, in alleviating lung inflammation.