Krill oil-based self-emulsifying drug delivery system to improve oral absorption and renoprotective function of ginger extract

Background

The aim of present study was to enhance the nutraceutical properties of ginger extract (GE) employing krill oil (KO)-based self-emulsifying drug delivery systems (SEDDS).

Methods

To prepare SEDDS of GE composed of KO as oil with self-emulsifying potency, glycerin or polyethylene glycol (PEG) were added to mixture of GE and KO. Physicochemical, pharmacokinetic, and renoprotective properties of GE formulations were characterized.

Results

Compared to PEG, glycerin contributed to the formation of stabile emulsion in both neutral and acidic conditions, resulting in ca. 4–44-fold enhanced dispersion amount of active ingredients in GE. Considering these points, KO-based SEDDS of GE with glycerin (GE/KO) was selected for further studies. During storage at 40 °C and 40 °C/75 % relative humidity for four weeks, GE/KO prevented the degradation of active ingredients in GE, possibly due to the anti-oxidant components in KO. After oral administration of GE samples in rats, the relative bioavailabilities of active components of GE, 6-gingerol and 8-gingerol, in the GE/KO-treated group were ca. 8-fold higher than those of GE-treated group, respectively. Repeated oral administration of GE/KO (100 mg-GE/kg/day, 4 days) provided a renoprotective effect in a rat model of cisplatin-induced acute kidney injury.

Conclusion

From these observations, the KO-based SEDDS approach might be effective for enhancing the nutraceutical properties of GE.