1,2 School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Sandip University, Nashik, Maharashtra, India
* Corresponding Author: Ms. Aaditi S. Punekar. Email: aaditipunekar789@gmail.com
Nanocarriers in herbal medicine delivery have garnered considerable interest for their capacity to improve the bioavailability, stability, and therapeutic efficiency of plant-derived bioactive chemicals. Benincasa hispida, sometimes referred to as winter melon or ash gourd, is a medicinal plant widely used in traditional medicine for its many pharmacological attributes. The clinical use of Benincasa hispida extract is constrained by its inadequate water solubility, fast degradation, and diminished bioavailability, which impede its absorption and therapeutic efficacy. Lipid-based nanocarriers, including nanoliposomal and nanocochleates, have developed as effective delivery strategies to address these problems. We have developed and analyzed Nanocochleates consisting of cholesterol and soya lecithin in molar ratios as an effective oral nanocarrier for delivery applications. The batches were created using a Response Surface Methodology (RSM) called Box-Behnken design, using Design Expert® software (Version 13.0). The Box-Behnken design had three independent variables: Cholesterol amount (mg) (A), Soya lecithin (mg) (B), and hydration volume (C). The examined dependent variables were particle size (nm), polydispersity index (PDI), and zeta potential (mV). The Box-Behnken design included factorial points, a central point, and axial points, resulting in 13 experimental runs. The produced nanoliposomes were analyzed using Drug Content, Entrapment Efficiency, Particle Size, Zeta Potential, In Vitro Franz Diffusion Study, FTIR Spectroscopy, and Transmission Electron Microscopy. The HF9 batch exhibited exceptional performance. Thereafter, extract-loaded nanocochleates were manufactured using the trapping method. The resulting liposomes were vortexed, and 100 microliters of a 0.1 M calcium chloride solution was gradually introduced. This quickly led to the extract liposomal phase becoming murky, indicating the formation of nanocochleates. The nanocochleates were further evaluated for drug content, encapsulation efficiency, zeta potential, and particle size. The optimized batch NF1 exhibited advantageous results.
KEYWORDS: Benincasa hispida, Nanoliposomes, Nanocochleates.
How to cite this article: Punekar AS, Kulkarni AD. Development and Characterization of Benincasa Hispida Extract-Loaded Nanocochleates for Enhanced Drug Delivery. Int J Drug Deliv Technol. 2026;16(4): 223-231. DOI: 10.25258/ijddt.16.4.25
Source of support: Nil.
Conflict of interest: None