1. Improving the Dissolution Rate and Bioavailability of Curcumin via Co-Crystallization
- Author
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Hao Wang, Chenxuan Zheng, Fanyu Tian, Ziyao Xiao, Zhixiong Sun, Liye Lu, Wenjuan Dai, Qi Zhang, and Xuefeng Mei
- Subjects
co-crystal ,curcumin ,L-carnitine ,dissolution ,bioavailability ,Medicine ,Pharmacy and materia medica ,RS1-441 - Abstract
Curcumin (CUR) is a natural polyphenolic compound with various pharmacological activities. Low water solubility and bioavailability limit its clinical application. In this work, to improve the bioavailability of CUR, we prepared a new co-crystal of curcumin and L-carnitine (CUR-L-CN) via liquid-assisted grinding. Both CUR and L-CN have high safe dosages and have a wide range of applications in liver protection and animal nutrition. The co-crystal was fully characterized and the crystal structure was disclosed. Dissolution experiments were conducted in simulated gastric fluids (SGF) and simulated intestinal fluids (SIF). CUR-L-CN exhibited significantly faster dissolution rates than those of pure CUR. Hirshfeld surface analysis and wettability testing indicate that CUR-L-CN has a higher affinity for water and thus exhibits faster dissolution rates. Pharmacokinetic studies were performed in rats and the results showed that compared to pure CUR, CUR-L-CN exhibited 6.3-times-higher AUC0–t and 10.7-times-higher Cmax.
- Published
- 2024
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