Preparation and evaluation of Bacopa–phospholipid complex for antiamnesic activity in rodents

Objectives

Bacopa–phospholipid complex (BPC), a novel phytoformulation was prepared, characterized and evaluated for its possible enhancement of antiamnesic activity as compared to bacopa extract (BE) in natural aging induced amnesic mice.

Methods

BPC was characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and FTIR. Antiamnesic activity of BPC (40 mg/kg body weight) and BE (40 mg/kg body weight) was evaluated using elevated plus-maze (EPM), Morris water maze (MWM) and Passive shock avoidance (PSA) tests.

Results

SEM data showed that BPC has irregular size vesicles consisting of phoaphatidylcholine (PC) and BE was found to be intercalated in the lipid layer. BPC showed two endothermal peaks (80.90 °C and 171 °C) in DSC studies. Aged mice showed poor retention of memory in EPM, MWM and PSA models. Administration of BPC (40 mg/kg; p.o.) and BE (40 mg/kg; p.o.) significantly reversed cognitive deficits in aged mice. However, enhanced antiamnesic activity was observed with BPC as compared to BE in all the memory models tested. This is also supported by enhanced acetyl cholinesterase inhibitory activity of BPC. A higher serum concentration of bacopaside-I (12.21 μg/ml) and bacopaside-II (12.28 μg/ml) was observed for BPC in bioavailability studies as compared to BE. BPC maintained effective concentration of bacopasides for a longer period in rat serum.

Conclusion

Bacopa–phospholipid complex has shown improved antiamnesic activity as compared to bacopa extract at the dose studied. This might be due to better absorption of bacopasides from the complex.