CARICA PAPAYA: FORMULATION AND EVALUATION OF NEW DOSAGE FORM DESIGN

Phytosomes are recently introduced drug delivery system and novel botanical formulation to produce lipophilic molecular complex to improve absorption and bioavailability of phytoconstituents. The objective of the present study was to formulate and evaluate tablets of Carica papaya phytosomes. Solvent injection method was used for the preparation of phytosomes. Carica papaya phytosomes were characterized by particle size, Zeta potential, Scanning electron microscopy, Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy, Differential scanning calorimetry, and in-vitro drug release. The results showed that the average particle size and zeta potential of the optimized phytosomes formulation were 135.8 nm and −36.7 mV. In-vitro drug release studies revealed that the cumulative % drug release of tablets of Carica papaya phytosomes was found to be 85.32%. Cytotoxic effect of aqueous extracts and phytosomes on human leukemia cell line K-562 was evaluated by performing Sulforhodamine B (SRB) assay. The GI₅₀ value of aqueous extract and F2 was found to be 75.2 μg/mL and 48.4 μg/mL respectively. The result showed that the phytosomes exhibited better anticancer activity than Carica papaya aqueous extract. Hence it was concluded that Carica papaya phytosomes serve as useful novel drug delivery system and provide more bioavailability than conventional formulations.