EXTRACTION, NANOFORMULATION AND EVALUATION OF CURCUMIN

Nanosuspensions have the versatile potential for efficient exploitation of different drug delivery formulations and routes because of the properties provided by their small size. In the present study, curcumin extraction was carried out from Curcuma longa (crude curcuminoids) using soxhlet extraction method with ethanol as a solvent which gives a high yield. Formulations of nanosuspensions with the nanoprecipitation technique are made using polycaprolactone (PCL) as a polymer, with extracted natural curcumin, and with synthetic curcumin. A comparison is made for parameters such as product yield, drug content, drug entrapment efficiency and in-vitro studies between the formulation of nanosuspensions with naturally extracted curcumin and synthetic curcumin. Average particle size obtained ranging from 297.4 nm to 973.1 nm for different formulations with natural curcumin and 253.8 nm to 850.1 nm for different formulations with synthetic curcumin. Entrapment efficiency of nanosuspension ranged between 66.7% to 80.78% for natural curcumin and 68.78% to 80.86% for synthetic curcumin. Drug content ranged from 67.41% to 85.70% for formulation with natural drug and 68.27% to 83.27% for formulation with the synthetic drug. The zeta potential values show good stability and negative surface charge in the range of -72.95mv to -8.59mv. The prepared nanosuspension showed enhanced dissolution which may lead to enhanced oral bioavailability.