Desenvolvimento de sistemas microemulsionados para veiculação de extrato das folhas de babaçu e avaliação da atividade funcional de fagócitos

Abstract

Microemulsion systems have incorporation capacity of organic compounds and are considered promising vehicles for drug delivery. On the other hand studies using plants with therapeutic potential with the Orbigniaspeciosa extract and/or oil popularly known as "babassu" revealed that this plant has immunomodulatory activity. However, the incorporation babassu extract microemulsion as well as its effect on cell activity have not been studied. The aim of this study was to determine the physical and chemical stability of microemulsion systems for serving babassu extract aiming its use as an immunomodulating agent. Pseudoternários diagrams were prepared using Sorbitanmonooleate (SP), polysorbate 80 (TW), 1-butanol (BT), distilled water and babassu oil. Microemulsion regions were highlighted in the diagram and formulations were pre-selected for babassu extract of incorporation (20μL). Microemulsions are characterized by stability studies, physical-chemical evaluations, rheology and dynamic light scattering. The interaction between the microemulsion with phagocytes of blood was analyzed by the release of superoxide, phagocytosis, the microbicide and intracellular calcium activity. Five formulations the stability was maintained in only two formulations with a conductivity between 9.79 and 28.7 μS.cm-1 and about pH 7.0. However, only 2MBE formulation showed Newtonian flow with minimal variation in viscosity over time under extreme conditions. This formulation showed hydrodynamic diameter of 79.88 nm and zeta potential of -30.90 mV. Cell viability and 2MB of 2MBE formulations was higher than 90%, while for babassu extract was 87%. The 2MB and 2MBE formulations showed a significant increase in superoxide anion release, phagocytosis, and microbicidal activity, but did not promote significant increase in intracellular calcium release. The results of this study indicate that the babassu extract served microemulsion is a candidate for functional material capable of modulating the functional activity of phagocytes, proving to be a promising herbal agent.