Enhanced pharmacokinetic behavior and hepatoprotective function of ginger extract-loaded supersaturable self-emulsifying drug delivery systems

The aim of present study was to enhance the nutraceutical properties of ginger extract (GE) by employing supersaturable self-emulsifying drug delivery systems (S-SEDDS). SEDDS of GE (SEDDS/GE), consisting of medium-chain triglyceride, lysolecithin and glycerin, was produced. To prepare S-SEDDS of GE (S-SEDDS/GE), hydroxypropyl methylcellulose was added to the SEDDS/GE as a precipitation inhibitor. Physicochemical, pharmacokinetic, and hepatoprotective properties of GE formulations were characterized. Both formulations improved the dissolution behavior of GE due to the formation of fine micelles with a median diameter of ca. 110 nm. After oral administration of GE samples in rats, the relative bioavailabilities of 6-gingerol and 8-gingerol in the S-SEDDS/GE-treated group were ca. 3-fold higher than those of GE-treated group, respectively. Repeated oral administration of GE/S-SEDDS (100 mg-GE/kg) provided a hepatoprotective effect in a rat model of carbon tetrachloride-induced hepatotoxicity. From these observations, the S-SEDDS approach might be efficacious for enhancing the nutraceutical properties of GE.