Casuarina equisetifolia Extract Loaded Phytosomes: Optimization, Characterization and In vivo Evaluation of Antidiabetic and Antihyperlipidemic Activities in Wistar Rats

Background: Herbal extracts have brilliant in-vitro activity but less in-vivo action in light of their macromolecular size and poor lipid solubility bringing about poor absorption and low bioavailability. These issues can be corrected by designing novel drug delivery systems. Phytosomes provide better absorption and bioavailability when compared to conventional herbal extract. Objective: This paper deals with the preparation, optimization and characterization of Phytosome of plant extract and in vivo assessment of antidiabetic and antihyperlipidemic activity for improved therapeutic efficacy having sufficient stability. Methods: Preliminary distinctive strategies were utilized to get ready Phytosome and antisolvent precipitation method was chosen. The formulation was guided by a full factorial design to study the effect of Independent variable on various dependent variables and resulted in an optimised product. Response contour plots were generated for each response factor to predict a phytosomal composition that yields phytosome formulation having least particle size and maximum entrapment efficiency. Results: Mean particle size, entrapment efficiency and Span value were found to be 295 ± 0.53nm, 82.43 ± 1.65% and 0.34 ± 0.14 respectively. Zeta potential was found to be 19.35mv, indicating the formation of stable formulation. In vitro release study described that the drug release follows the Korsmeyer- Peppas kinetic model. The results proved that Phytosomes of Casuarina equisetifolia extract exhibited more antidiabetic potential and antihyperlipidemic properties as compared to crude Casuarina extract. Conclusion: Phytosomes of Casuarina equestifolia extract was successfully formulated having good entrapment efficiency and physico-chemical characterization of the optimized product, confirming the formation of stable formulation. In vivo antidiabetic activity confirmed better potential of the optimised formulation. Consequently, it has been presumed that Phytosomes of Casuarina equisetifolia extract serve as a useful novel drug delivery system and provide more therapeutic efficacy than conventional plant extracts