Host-guest inclusion system of glycyrrhetic acid with polyamine-β-cyclodextrin: Preparation, characterization, and anticancer activity

The inclusion complexation behaviors of glycyrrhetic acid (CTA) with four polyamine-modified β-cyclodextrins (CDs) have been investigated by 1H and 2D NMR, thermal gravimetric analysis, X-ray power diffraction and scanning electron microscopy. The results showed that Glycyrrhetic acid was encapsulated into the cavity of cyclodextrin to form the complexes with 1:1 stoichiometry. The water solubility of GTA was significantly enhanced by inclusion complexation with polyamine-modified β-cyclodextrins. The calculated IC50 values indicated that the antitumor activities of inclusion complexes were better than that of GTA. Satisfactory aqueous solubility, along with high thermal stability of inclusion complexes will be potentially useful for their application on the formulation design of natural medicine.