FORMULATION OF EICHHORNIA CRASSIPPES DERIVED LUTEIN: COCONUT OIL MICRO-EMULSION FOR SUSTAINED OPHTHALMIC DRUG DELIVERY

Lutein is a lipid soluble, oxygenated derivative of hydrocarbon carotenoid, from xanthophyll family which is naturally present in egg yolk, vegetables and several dark green plants. In human eyes, Lutein and zeaxanthin are the only two carotenoids present in the macula region to filter the harmful ultra violet rays. They protect the eye from oxidative damage associated with diseases such as cancer, cataracts and age related macular degeneration (AMD). Treating AMD is expensive and also prone to after effects of the treatment. Hence a natural low cost alternate has been investigated in this research article. Eichhornia crassippes, an aquatic perennial herb weed belongs to pontederiaceae family a dark green-leaf was taken as source for the lutein extraction as it has carotenoids in abundance. Lutein was identified, isolated and purified from crude leaf extract and was analysed by GC-MS, TLC and HPLC using hexane as mobile phase. To improve the bioavailability and stability of lutein, it was micro-emulsified with coconut oil using high energy sonication method. The oil in water (O/W) lutein micro emulsion (MEL) was synthesized and analyzed for their particle size, zeta potential, entrapment efficiency, antioxidant activity, in-vivo (dialysis membrane) and ex-vivo (goat’s eye cornea) lutein release features by franz diffusion cell. The drug release studies showed the gradual and controlled release of lutein in MEL formulation than macro emulsion (EL) can effectively treat the eye related diseases. The effective sustained release of lutein from micro emulsion can be attributed to the kinetic instability of the droplets.