The preparation of Morinda citrifolia (Noni)–phospholipid complex and its pharmacokinetics study in rats

Abstract

Morinda citrifolia L. (NONI) fruits have been used for thousands of years for the treatment of many health problems including cancer, cold, diabetes, flu, hypertension, and pain. Plant extracts have reported several therapeutic benefits, but extraction of individual compound from the extract often exhibits limited clinical utility as the synergistic effect of various natural ingredients gets lost. In the present study oral bioavailability of standardized Noni fruit extract (NFE) has been improved by preparing Noni fruit extract phospholipid complexes (NFP). The physicochemical properties of the prepared complex were studied by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and dissolution. The pharmacokinetic and bioavailability studies were done in rats taking scopoletin and quercetin as marker. The results indicate that the bioavailability of scopoletin and quercetin were increased significantly after oral administration of NFP comparing with NFE in rats. The maximum concentration in plasma for Scopoletin and quercetin 6.2 μg/mL, 0.121 μg/mL (NFE) were increased to 10.97 μg/mL, 0.76 μg/mL in (NFP) respectively. Where as AUC (0~ T) for scopoletin and quercetin were increased from 138.8 μg∙ min /mL, 86.9 μg•min/mL (NFE) to 278.3 µg.min/mL, 225.5 μg∙min/mL in (NFP) respectively.