RESUMO
BACKGROUND: Combined plant extracts of Phyllanthus niruri, Croton tiglium, and Zingiber officinale are reported to have potential pharmacological applications. Ethosomes have a unique ability of encapsulating drugs or plant extracts with varying hydrophobicities in the phospholipid bilayer. AIM: To explore cytotoxicity of the combined plant extracts and ethosome loaded combined plant extracts for topical delivery. To study effect of ethosomes loaded combined plant extracts using HaCaT cells model treated with testosterone. METHODS: Dried powder of plant was extracted with ethanol using Soxhlet and cold macerations. Total phenolic and flavonoid contents were also determined using established methods. The combined extract loaded ethosome formulation was prepared by solvent dispersion method. RESULTS: The plant extracts loaded ethosomes formulation with a vesicle size range 1524.6-167.7 nm was prepared. HaCaT cells treated with testosterone negative control showed an IC50 value of 27 ± 1.0. Thw standard marketed topical minoxidil (1% solution) treated cells with testosterone showed an IC50 value 33 ± 1.0 and the combined plant extracts loaded ethosomes with testosterone showed an IC50 value 30 ± 1.0. Morphological alterations of rat skin exposed to the combined plant extract loaded ethosomes solution were assessed and compared with untreated skin and negative control. CONCLUSION: The preclinical safety was investigated employing an in vitro cytotoxicity and histopathological study. The cell line study results confirmed that the combined plant extracts loaded ethosomes inhibits testosterone and increase cell viability closer to that of standard drug minoxidil. According to our histopathological study, the combined plant extract loaded ethosomal formulations did not cause any damage to the rat skin layer.
