Cashew apple pectin as a carrier matrix for mangiferin: Physicochemical characterization, in vitro release and biological evaluation in human neutrophils

In this work, cashew apple pectin (CP) of the species Anacardium occidentale L. was used as an encapsulation matrix for hydrophobic drugs. The model drug chosen was mangiferin (Mf), a glycosylated C-xanthone which has antioxidant properties but low solubility in aqueous medium. CP (1-100 mu gmL(-1)) was not toxic to human neutrophils and also did not significantly interfere with the pro-inflammatory mechanism of these cells in the concentration range of 12.5 and 100 mu gmL(-1). The results are promising because they show that pectin encapsulated mangiferin after spray drying presented an efficiency of 82.02%. The results obtained in the dissolution test, simulating the release of mangiferin in the gastrointestinal tract (pH 1.2, 4.6 and 6.8) and using Franz diffusion cells (pH 7.4), showed that cashew pectin may be a promising vehicle in prolonged drug delivery systems for both oral and dermal applications. (C) 2021 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Automated summary

The use of cashew apple pectin as an encapsulation matrix for hydrophobic drugs, specifically mangiferin, showed promising results in terms of drug efficiency and lack of toxicity to human neutrophils. The study suggests that cashew pectin may be a promising vehicle for prolonged drug delivery systems, both orally and dermally.