DESIGN, DEVELOPMENT AND CHARACTERIZATION OF RUTIN- SILYMARIN LOADED NANO-FORMULATION FOR TREATMENT OF ASTHMA

Asthma is a chronic inflammatory respiratory disorder characterized by airway hyperresponsiveness, mucus hypersecretion, and reversible airflow obstruction. Although conventional therapies provide symptomatic relief, long-term use is often associated with adverse effects and limited disease modification. The present study aimed to design, develop, and characterize a nano-formulation co-loaded with rutin and silymarin for enhanced therapeutic management of asthma. Rutin and silymarin, natural flavonoids with potent antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and immunomodulatory properties, were incorporated into a nanocarrier system to improve their solubility, stability, and bioavailability. The nano-formulation was prepared using an optimized nanoparticle fabrication technique and characterized for particle size, polydispersity index, zeta potential, drug entrapment efficiency, morphology, and in vitro drug release behavior. The developed nanoparticles exhibited a nanoscale particle size distribution, high drug encapsulation efficiency, and sustained drug release profile. Stability studies confirmed the physicochemical integrity of the formulation under storage conditions. Furthermore, the nano-formulation demonstrated enhanced antioxidant activity and significant inhibition of inflammatory mediators associated with asthmatic conditions. The synergistic action of rutin and silymarin delivered through the nano-system may offer improved therapeutic efficacy by reducing oxidative stress and airway inflammation. These findings suggest that the developed rutin–silymarin nano-formulation