Formulation and evaluation of polyherbal capsules for the management of gout

Trigonella foenum-graecum (TF), Zingiber officinale (ZO) and Piper nigrum (PN) were extracted using ethanol and incorporated in to liposomes. These liposomes were formulated as capsule dosage form for the management of gout. The extraction yield for TF, ZO and PN were found to be 38.9 41.6 and 21.6% respectively respectively. The total phenolic content in TF, ZO and PN extracts were found to be 31.3 ± 1.367, 11.7 ± 2.896 and 8.7 ± 0.894 GAE mg/100g whereas it was found to be 49.8 ± 0.735, 58.1 ± 1.721 and 69.06 ± 1.823 GAE mg/100g for 1:1:1, 1:2:1 and 2:1:1 mixture ratio of CQ and ZO respectively. The particle size of the liposomes was found to decrease with an increase in sonication time but the sonication time did not affect the total phenolic content of the liposomes. The particle size of the liposome formulated using 5 min sonication time was considered optimum and was found to be 2.38 ± 0.0929 µm. The phenolic content in the liposomes was in accordance with the extract mixture incorporated into the liposome with LF3 exhibiting the highest phenolics. The liposomes were evaluated for stability for a period of 3 months at storage temperature of 4° and 40°C. The liposomes were stable at both the temperature conditions and the particle size of the liposomes did not change considerably over a period of three months. The weight variation of polyherbal liposome filled capsules was between 3.5-4.1% whereas the disintegration time was found to be between 3.2 to 3.7 min.