DEVELOPMENT AND CHARACTERIZATION OF CURCUMIN NANO CUBOSOMAL FORMULATION BY FACTORIAL DESIGN

Article history Curcumin has numerous biological and pharmacological activities, with no major side effects, and is currently being used in several clinical trials for treating several disorders, including Alzheimer's disease, hypercholesterolemia, neurological disorders, cancer and anti ulcer activity, but its having poor solubility and stability. The aim of this work was to investigate the effects of formulation variables on development of curcumin nano cubosomal formulations as potential oral delivery systems. Curcumin cubosomes were prepared homogenization method. A 3 2 full factorial design was employed to evaluate individual and combined effects of formulation variables, namely polyoxmar 407, glycerol monooleate, and entrapment efficiency. Prepared curcumin nano cubosomes were evaluated regarding entrapment efficiency (EE%), particle size analysis, zeta potential, microscopic examination and TEM. Anti ulcer activity model was followed by pyloric ligation. Anti ulcer activity was evaluated by ulcer index, gastric volume, gastric P H, total acidity and free acidity. The formulation CF6 having high percentage of entrapment efficiency and when compared with the other formulations. The optimized CF6 particle size of the formulation was about 43 nm and zeta potential -17 kv. Formation of cubosomes confirmed by transmission electron microscopy and optical microscopy. The anti ulcer activity of curcumin cubosomes more than pure curcumin. The developed curcumin loaded cubosomal gave rise to stable, nano- sized vesicles, able to improve curcumin anti ulcer activity in oral drug delivery.