Planta Med 2014; 80 - P2N3
DOI: 10.1055/s-0034-1394823

Microcapsules containing Pterodon pubescens Benth. extract with cashew gum as wall material

LR Giarola 1, N de Cássia Almeida Queiroz 2, IM de Oliveira Sousa 2, RA Ferreira Rodrigues 2, MA Foglio 2, PG Mazzola 1
  • 1Department of Clinical Pathology, School of Medical Sciences – University of Campinas, 13083 – 887 Campinas-SP, Brazil
  • 2CPQBA – University of Campinas, P. O. Box 6171, 13148 – 218 Campinas-SP, Brazil

Pterodon pubescens Benth. (Leguminosae) is a native plant found in central Brazil, commonly known as Sucupira, widely used in traditional medicine. The species has been reported to have antiproliferative, anti-inflammatory and analgesic properties [1,2]. The technique of encapsulation by spray drying allows obtaining microcapsules with sizes ranging from 0.2 to 500.0 µm, providing protection of the plant extract, which can be altered by exposure to oxygen, moisture, light and other components in a formulation. In this process, the first step is the selection of an appropriate wall material.

This study reports data with the use of cashew gum as wall material, a low cost material obtained through the exudate's purification from Anacardium occidentale L. trees, which are common in northeastern Brazil [3]. Sucupira's crude extract was obtained by extraction with dichloromethane of ground fruits at room temperature (25 °C) using a 1:5 ratio of plant:solvent. The process was repeated 3 times during 2 hours periods each. The extract was concentrated under vacuum with 46.6% yield. The cashew gum was purified by method according to Rodrigues et al [3], optimizing up the dissolution, filtration and drying steps [4]. The purified gum was ground and sieved, with 94.4% yield. A suspension containing Sucupira's extract and wall material was dissolved in water and then processed by Spray Drier (Buchi B® 290) with 180 °C inlet air, 414 L/h N2 flow rate and 6 mL/min liquid flow rate, with 84.2% yield. The microcapsules were characterized by encapsulation efficiency by GC/MS (43.5 ± 2.8%) and morphology evaluation using a scanning electronic microscope as shown in photomicrographs below. These results demonstrate that cashew gum can be used as wall material and the microcapsules obtained can be used in several dosage forms as well as modified release systems.

Acknowledgements: FAPESP, CAPES, CNPQ, Postgraduate Program in Biosciences and Technology of Bioactive Products/UNICAMP.

Keywords: microcapsules, Pterodon pubescens, extract, cashew gum, wall material

References:

[1] Spindola, HM. et al. (2011) Eur J Pharmacol 656:45 – 51.

[2] Servat L. et al. (2012)J. Braz. Chem. Soc 00:1 – 10.

[3] Rodrigues JF. et al. (1993) Polímeros 3:31 – 36.

[4] Rodrigues RAF, Grosso CRF. (2008)J Microencapsul 25:13 – 20.