Encapsulation of sesamol in phosphatidyl choline micelles: Enhanced bioavailability and anti-inflammatory activity

- Sesamol was encapsulated in phosphatidylcholine micelles (PCS) with an EE of 96.8%.
- PCS had improved bioavailability compared to free sesamol (FS).
- PCS down regulated iNOS expression, NO and ROS level, compared to FS.
- The study may be beneficial to developing sesamol based functional food.

Sesamol, the phenolic degradation product of sesamolin, although recognised for its anti-inflammatory effects, has low bioavailability. In this manuscript, we attempted to improve its bioavailability by encapsulation in mixed phosphatidylcholine micelles. Sesamol could be solubilised and entrapped in phosphatidylcholine mixed micelles (PCS) with 96.8% efficiency (particle size 3.0 ± 0.06 nm). Fluorescence spectra of PCS revealed lower relative fluorescence intensity (RFI 112) compared to 'free' sesamol (FS) (RFI 271). The bioaccessibility, transport across a monolayer of cells and cellular uptake of PCS was 8.58%, 1.5-fold and 1.2-fold better, respectively, compared to FS. The anti-inflammatory effects of FS and PCS were compared using LPS treated RAW 264.7 cell line and lipoxygenase inhibition. PCS effected downregulation of iNOS protein expression (27%), NO production (20%), ROS (32%) and lipoxygenase inhibition (IC50 = 31.24 μM) compared to FS.