Formulation, characterization, evaluation of rosmarinic acid loaded phytophospholipid complex for improved antihypertensive and antihyperglycemic activity

Rosmarinic acid (RA), a naturally occurring polyphenolic compound, exhibits significant antihypertensive and antihyperglycemic properties. However, its therapeutic potential is often limited by poor bioavailability. This study aimed to enhance the bioavailability and efficacy of RA by formulating a rosmarinic acid-phytophospholipid complex (RA-PC) using the solvent evaporation method. The complex was characterized using X-ray diffraction (XRD), Transmission electron microscopy (TEM), Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), zeta potential analysis, and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) to confirm its formation and assess its physicochemical properties. Comparative biological assays were conducted to evaluate the antihypertensive and antihyperglycemic activities of pure rosmarinic acid (PRA) and RA-PC against standard drugs, captopril and acarbose, respectively. The results demonstrated that RA-PC exhibited significantly enhanced efficacy compared to PRA. The observed improvement is attributed to the phospholipid layer in RA-PC, which facilitates better permeation through biological membranes and increases RA's bioavailability. The study concludes that phytophospholipid complexation is a promising strategy for overcoming the limitations associated with the bioavailability of herbal compounds. The RA-PC formulation not only enhanced the therapeutic efficacy of RA but also suggests a broader potential for the application of phytophospholipid complexes in the development of herbal drug delivery systems. These findings open avenues for further research into optimizing and scaling up such formulations for clinical use.