OBTENÇÃO E CARACTERIZAÇÃO DE NANOEMULSÃO A BASE DE LECITINA E ÁCIDO OLEICO PARA ENCAPSULAÇÃO DE EXTRATO ETANÓLICO DE PRÓPOLIS

Abstract

Introduction: Propolis is a natural product with anti-inflammatory, antitumor, antibacterial, antifungal, antioxidant and healing properties. However, like most natural products, it has low water solubility and extensive gastrointestinal degradation, which hinder its bioavailability. Objective: in this sense, in the present work we have developed a nanoemulsion based on lecithin and oleic acid to carry ethanol extract of propolis, in order to improve its pharmacokinetic characteristics and enhance its biological activities. Methodology: the nanoemulsion was developed using the high shear homogenization method. The encapsulation efficiency was determined by the total phenolic compounds and other physicochemical and stability characterizations were performed. The antifungal activity of the nanoparticles was evaluated against strains of Candida albicans 0546 VITROIDSTM, and four clinical strains of C. albicans, C. glabrata, C. parapsilosis and C. tropicalis though the CLSI method. And toxicity was assessed from the ex vivo hemolysis assay. Results: the nanoparticles had an average diameter of 264.7 ± 11.1, with a polydispersion index of 0.247 ± 0.039 and a zeta potential of -38.7 ± 3.30 mV, with an encapsulation efficiency of 93.32% ± 0.50. From scanning electron microscopy, the presence of spherical and smooth nanoparticles was observed. The nanoemulsion remained stable until 84 days of evaluation. Regarding antifungal activity, nanoparticles showed results similar to ethanol extract, being considered promising. In the ex vivo hemolysis assay, the nanoparticles showed hemolysis only after 72 hours at the highest concentration tested and with a percentage below that found for the propolis ethanol extract, which presented hemolysis at every intervals and concentrations tested. Conclusion: with this, it can be suggested that it was possible to develop a low-cost and stable system, with adequate physical-chemical characteristics and biological activity in vitro potentiated against Candida spp strains.