QUERCETIN PHYTOSOMES: A COMPREHENSIVE APPROACH FOR THE PREPARATION AND OPTIMIZATION USING BOX-BEHNKEN DESIGN
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.22159/ijap.2025v17i4.54075Keywords:
Quercetin, Obesity, Phytosome, QbD methodology, Bioavailability, OptimizationAbstract
Objective: The main objective of the present study was to develop and optimize quercetin-loaded phytosomes using the Quality by Design (QbD) methodology and to evaluate their in vivo efficacy.
Methods: The rotary evaporation technique was used to formulate phytosomes. The experimental design utilized a box-Behnken model with three levels and three different components and produced 17 batches. The interactions between dependent and independent variables across different levels were analyzed using a polynomial quadratic equation. The optimized phytosomes were characterized through various techniques, including Fourier Transform Infra-Red (FTIR), Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC), Zeta potential and Particle Size (PS), X-Ray Diffraction (XRD), Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR), Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM), Entrapment Efficiency (EE), and Percentage Yield (PY).
Results: FTIR analysis identified key peaks and functional groups, confirming phytosome formation. It was determined that the average particle size was 204.6 nm. DSC tests provide evidence of the development of inclusion complexes and drug amorphization in quercetin phytosome with endothermic peaks at 198.29 °C and 274.75 °C. Zeta potential was determined to be-28.6mV. The crystalline and thermal characteristics of the optimized phytosome were determined by XRD Analysis. The phytosome's diffraction pattern showed intense and crisp crystalline peaks at 2θ of 20.20000, 18.22000, and 19.62000, and the crystallinity index was found to be 16.7%, indicating its amorphous nature. The difference in The NMR spectra of quercetin phytosome can be attributed to the presence of L-α Phosphatidylcholine, which may cause a minor shift in the chemical shift of quercetin. According to the TEM investigation, the phytosome displayed a stable, spherical, self-enclosed shape. The in vitro data demonstrated enhanced dissolution and faster drug release (98.1%) of quercetin phytosome compared to free quercetin (68.4%) at the end of 7 h. The in vivo data demonstrate that these phytosomes efficiently decreased body weight (165±0.29) by comparing with standard drug atorvastatin(162±0.17) with p value less than 0.05, showing this is a significant.
Conclusion: The present study efficiently employed QbD Methodology to formulate and optimize quercetin phytosomes.
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