ABSTRACT
Cassia grandis and Bixa orellana are important plant species with folk use and great potential for phytopharmaceuticals. Nanodispersions are disperse systems of insoluble or immiscible substances in a liquid medium that may be prepared with or without coating polymers. To our knowledge, no studies were carried in order to achieve coating-polymer free nanoformulations using B. orellana extract or any C. grandis-based nanoformulations. Thus, on the present study we aimed to develop C. grandis nanoformulations using three different coating polymers (Eudragit® L 100 55, PEG 4000 and Kollicoat®), while B. orellana nanodispersions were obtained using different surfactants (polysorbate 80, polysorbate 20, polyethylene glycol 400 monooleate, polyethylene glycol 600 monooleate, polyethylene glycol 400 dioleate and polyethylene glycol 600 dioleate) as coating polymer-free nanoformulations. Characterization of nanoformulations was performed by different parameters, including particle size, polydispersity index and zeta-potential. Our results suggested that some optimal nanoformulations were obtained for both plant species. Moreover, possible stable behavior was observed during storage period for C. grandis (30 days) and B. orellana (21 days). On this context, the present study contributes to nanobiotechnology development of phytopharmaceuticals, allowing achievement of novel nano-delivery systems with two important folk medicinal plant extracts and making them potential products for innovative phytopharmaceuticals.
Subject(s)
Bixaceae/chemistry , Cassia/chemistry , Drug Compounding/methods , Nanoparticles/chemistry , Hydrogen-Ion Concentration , Particle Size , Plant Extracts/chemistry , Plants, Medicinal/chemistry , Surface-Active Agents/chemistry , TemperatureABSTRACT
Polyphenols are a large group of structurally diverse natural products, including flavonoids. One of the most bioactive compounds of this class is the flavonol quercetin, a recognized antioxidant. Despite several studies were carried out aiming to develop nanoformulations with secondary metabolites, to our knowledge, quercetin was not used as raw material for nanodispersion production without coating polymers. This type of nanosize formulation is often prepared using organic solvents and quercetin nanodispersions were prepared by emulsification evaporation technique, using 1(6).2(2) experimental factorial design, ("surfactant type" evaluated at 6 levels, "surfactant amount" and "stirring speed" evaluated at 2 levels). Variance analysis, after one day of nanodispersions preparation, revealed that only the surfactant type was statistically significant on particle size, while none of factors presented statistically significant effect on polydispersity index. Variance analysis after seven days of nanodispersions preparation revealed that either surfactant type and surfactant amount presented significant effect on particle size, while only surfactant type influenced polydispersity index. Some nanodispersions presented small diameter and narrow size distribution, suggesting potential stability of these systems. Special attention was given to nanodispersion prepared with 3 % (w/w) of polyethylene glycol 400 monooleate (expressed as function of surfactant concentration at aqueous phase). It presented mean droplet size of 129.4 ± 0.5 nm and polydispersity index of 0.173 ± 0.018, after 7 days of preparation. Low polydispersity index indicates a high homogeneity concerning particle size distribution and suggests stability of the system. Moreover, absence of coating polymers and utilization of a low energy method would be an advantage in terms of reducing costs for industrial application, without any nanosize impairment.
Subject(s)
Emulsions/chemistry , Quercetin/chemistry , Surface-Active Agents/chemistry , Analysis of Variance , Drug Compounding/methods , Nanostructures/chemistry , Particle SizeABSTRACT
Pterodon emarginatus Vogel is a Brazilian species that belongs to the family Fabaceae, popularly known as sucupira. Its oil has several biological activities, including potent larvicidal property against Aedes aegypti. This insect is the vector of dengue, a tropical disease that has been considered a critical health problem in developing countries, such as Brazil. Most of dengue control methods involve larvicidal agents suspended or diluted in water and making active lipophilic natural products available is therefore considered a technological challenge. In this context, nanoemulsions appear as viable alternatives to solve this major problem. The present study describes the development of a novel nanoemulsion with larvicidal activity against A. aegypti along with the required Hydrophile Lipophile Balance determination of this oil. It was suggested that the mechanism of action might involve reversible inhibition of acetylcholinesterase and our results also suggest that the P. emarginatus nanoemulsion is not toxic for mammals. Thus, it contributes significantly to alternative integrative practices of dengue control, as well as to develop sucupira based nanoproducts for application in aqueous media.
