Herbosomes technology is one of such systems that incorporate phospholipids into standardized active ingredients of herbal extracts, thus effectively enhancing the bioavailability of water-soluble bioactive constituents of phytomedicines such as flavonoids, phenolics and hydrophilic compounds. The objective of the present research work was to complex the standardized extract (SE) with phospholipid to formulate standardized Proanthocyanidins extract-phospholipid complex (SPEPC), characterize it and check its permeability through an ex vivo everted gut sac experiment. SPEPC was prepared by mixing SPE and soya phosphatidylcholine (PC) in 1:1 v/v mixture of methanol and dioxane and spray-drying the mixture. It was evaluated for its octanol solubility, dissolution, and permeability by everted the gut sac technique. The characterization methods confirmed the formation of complex. Increased n-octanol solubility of the complex proved its increased lipophilicity. Dissolution studies revealed that the phospholipid covering may prevent the Proanthocyanidins to be released in gastro-intestinal tract, thus preventing their colonic microbial degradation. SPEPC showed better apparent permeability than SPE in an everted gut sac technique. Hence, it could be concluded that phospholipid complex of SPE may be of potential use in increasing the permeability and hence the bioavailability of Proanthocyanidins.

Herbosomes, formulation and characterization of Proanthocyanidins