Objective: To evaluate the self-microemulsifying ability and dissolution behavior of pueraria lobata isoflavone in vitro and the pharmacokinetic behavior in rats.
Methods: The self-microemulsifying rate was evaluated by the self-microemulsifying time and the self-microemulsifying efficiency was evaluated by the particle size of resultant microemulsions. The plasma concentrations were evaluated by HPLC and dissolution and pharmacokinetic behavior of self-microemulsifying drug delivery systems were evaluated by comparison with commercial tablets.
Results: The system was self-microemulsified in 2 min and the particle size was less than 50 nm. The dis- solution of SMESC in distilled water was more than 90% at 10 min, while those of the commercial tablet were less than 50% at 120 min. 82% increase in the relative bioavailability was observed for the self microemulsifying drug delivery systems compared with Yufengningxin tablets. Tmax was smaller in the self-microemulsifying drug delivery systems compared with Yufengningxin tablets.
Conclusion: The self-microemulsifying drug delivery systems can increase drug dissolution in vitro and absorption in vivo significantly.