Alpha amyrin nano-emulsion formulation from stem bark of Ficus benghalensis and its characterization for neurobehavioral studies

INTRODUCTION: Alpha amyrin is a pentacyclic triterpenethat shows erratic GI absorption and poor BBB permeability. The aim of the study is to isolate from alpha amyrin stem bark of Ficus benghalensis (Fb), its purification, and formulation of nano emulsion which may improve its bioavailability, its characterization, intranasal administration to Swiss albino mice to check its neurobehavioral effects in aluminium induced neurotoxicity.
METHODS: Alpha amyrin were isolated from stembark of Ficus benghalensis by Soxhlet extraction, purified by analytical methods, prepared chitosan decorated nanoemulsion of the same and characterized it, and was administered through intranasal route to aluminium treated Swiss albino mice for 28 days to check its effect on neurobehavioral parameters.
RESULTS: Intranasal delivery of chitosan-decorated alpha amyrin nanoemulsion brought significant improvement in neurobehavioral parameters. It reduced fall off period in the rotarod test, and reduced escape latency in the Morris water maze test, and animals showed improved learning and spatial memory in the elevated plus maze, the transfer latency of animals improved with treatment compared to aluminum-induced groups indicative of the neuroprotective role of the drug.
DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION: Intra-nasal administration of alpha amyrin nanoemulsion isolated from the stem bark of Ficus benghalensis improved neurobehavioral parameters in aluminium-induced neurotoxicity in Swiss albino mice.