Anti- Hypertensive Drug: Formulation And Characterization of Foeniculum Vulgare Phytosomes to Enhance the Bioavailability and ACE Inhibition Potential of Secondary Metabolites

Fennel’s dry seed has historically been proven as an anti-inflammatory, analgesic, anti-caries, antispasmodic, and diuretic to treat glucoma, galactagogue, and high blood pressure. F. vulgare has hepato-protective flavonoids and organic compounds/secondary metabolites with low bioavailability. This study was done to formulate the F. vulgare-loaded phytosomes to improve the bioavailability and therapeutic/ACE inhibition potential of F. vulgare. F. vulgare phytosomes were designed by the thin layer hydration (TLH) technique. These phytosomes were characterized by UV-Vis and FTIR Spectroscopies. The in-vitro biological study was also conducted. The high encapsulation efficiency (95%) was obtained at optimized parameters (F. vulgare 1500 mg; phospholipid 1500 mg; stirring time 240 min.) and 259 nm λmax. UV-visible and FT-IR spectra of phytosomes vindicated chemical and physical interactions between functional groups of F. vulgare and phospholipid. Phytosomes have unveiled the highest 74% ACE inhibition potential at 2.5mg/ml than crude extract and are closely related to the standard. F. vulgare phytosomes also showed excellent antioxidant activity as compared to F. vulgare (P<0.05) proving phytosomes more suitable for application.