FORMULATION AND EVALUATION OF NIOSOMES CONTAINING PUNICALAGIN FROM PEELS OF PUNICA GRANATUM

Abstract

ABSTRACT

Plant based formulations have been used since ancient times and playing a role as a remedial against various human and animal diseases. The interest in traditional medicines has increased in various parts of world. A well known ancient fruit named as Punica granatum (family- Punicaceae) which is commonly known as Pomegranate, Anar or Dalim in North India whose therapeutic qualities have rebounded and echoed throughout the millennia and regarded as an agent of resurrection for Babylonians; symbol of invincibility on the battle fields for the Persians, while for the ancient Chinese, symbolized for longevity and immortality. Punicalagin is chemically named as 2,3-(S)-hexahydroxydiphenoyl-4,6-(S,S)-gallagyl-D-glucose and belongs to a category of hydrolysable tannin. In this vein, present investigation was an endeavor to formulate the vesicular formulation of Punicalagin. For this, the Punicalagin was extracted, isolated and purified from peels of Punica granatum. Thus, to protect its hydrolysis, it is formulated into a nanocarrier system known as niosomes which is based on the preparation of niosomes by using a non-ionic surfactant in varying amounts and keeping the amount of cholesterol constant. The formulations were evaluated on the basis of evaluation parameters and thus optimized for the best formulation.

Keywords: Punica granatum, Punicalagin, Novel Drug Delivery System, Niosomes, Vesicular system.