Spray dried asiatic acid-palm oil nanoemulsion with improved characteristics and antihypertensive effect study in rat model of hypertension

Abstract

Hypertension is a risk factor for premature death worldwide.It is characterized by an increase in blood pressure, so it needs therapy to regulate it and keep the value normal. Asiatic acid (AA) and palm oil (PO) were alternative antihypertensive agents that were promising to be developed. Both were natural compounds obtained from the Centella asiatica and Elaesis guineensis plants. However, low solubility, low absorption, rapid metabolism, low bioavailability and high oxidation were the limitation for both of them as an active compounds. Thus, a combination of nanoemulsion formulation and drying with a spray dryer was necessary to improve the physicochemical characteristics of the products and the effectiveness as an anti-hypertensive agent. From a series of evaluations, it was found that a spray-dried nanoemulsion product had been formed. This spherical microparticle had good physicochemical characteristics and stability, with the ability to quickly disperse into nanodroplets. Furthermore, LTM2 with optimum characteristics, highest solubility and rapid dissolution rate was selected to be continued in the activity study in Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats. The results of the study showed that spray-dried nanoemulsion AA succeeded in lowering blood pressure and acted as an ACE-inhibitor better than asiatic acid powder.