Pharmacokinetics of quercetin loaded biodegradable chitosan nanoparticles following oral administration in rabbits

Abstract

Infectious diseases contribute major sickness of the residential area and resistance towards synthetic anti-bacterials is a major concern. Quercetin is a bioactive flavonoid nutraceutical. Its biopharmaceutical applications are limited due to poor solubility and low bioavailability. Quercetin loaded poly lactic Co glycolic acid (PLGA) nanoparticles were prepared by the solvent displacement method. Nanoparticles were characterized and their antibacterial potential was found in vitro against gram positive and negative bacteria using the broth dilution method. Comparative pharmacokinetics of plain quercetin and quercetin loaded nanoparticles were conducted in rabbits. Plasma samples were analyzed for the quercetin using spectrophotometer. The values of pharmacokinetic parameters such as AUC, clearance, Vd, Tmax and Cmax were 183.4±3.94 h.mg/L, 0.13±0.01 L/h, 1.53±0.78 L, 11.19±0.28h, and 5.98±1.24 mg/L respectively for pure quercetin and were 1616 ± 5.71 h.mg/L, 0.01 ± 0.00 L/h, 0.50 ± 0.03 L, 18.50 ± 0.34h, and 27.65 ± 1.21 mg/L respectively for quercetin nanoparticles. This study indicated that the pharmacokinetics of quercetin nanoparticles has been significantly improved.