The aimed of the present study was to evaluate the liposomal formulation regarding its hydrophobicity. The evaluation studies were done based on the amphiphilic nature of the phospholipid liposomes. This paper highlights the importance of such type of lipid based carriers by encapsulation hydrophobic and hydrophilic drug models. Crystal violet and Nile red were used to represent hydrophilic and hydrophobic moieties before moving to pharmaceutical implications. The formulated liposomes were compared for their hydrophobicity using percent encapsulation efficiencies. The purpose of this formulation was to mimic the red blood cells. The average particle size of 120±25.1 and zeta potential of -10.2±1.4 were in good agreement with reported characteristics of the red blood cells. Per cent encapsulation efficiency for crystal violet was more obvious with a value of 68.1 as compared to 36.5% for Nile red. The prepared liposomes were quite stable for a period of one month. Our findings reflect the fate of our system more suitable for hydrophilic drugs under the given set of formulation parameters.
Columbin, a diterpenoid furanolactone, was isolated purely for the first time from the plant species Tinspora bakis. The anti-inflammatory effects of columbin were studied in vitro, in silico and in vivo. The effect of columbin on nitric oxide was examined on lipopolysaccharide-interferon-gamma (LPS/IFN) induced RAW264.7 macrophages. In vitro and in silico cyclooxygenase-1 and cyclooxygenase-2 inhibitory activities of columbin using biochemical kit and molecular docking, respectively, were investigated. Mechanism of columbin in suppressing NF-kappaB-translocation was tested using Cellomics®NF-κB activation assay and ArrayScan Reader in LPS-stimulated RAW264.7 cells. Moreover, effects of columbin in vivo that were done on carrageenan-induced mice paw-oedema were tested. Lastly, the in vitro and in vivo toxicities of columbin were examined on human liver cells and mice, respectively. Treatment with columbin or N(ω)-nitro-l-arginine methyl ester (l-NAME) inhibited LPS/IFN-γ-induced NO production without affecting the viability of RAW264.7. Pre-treatment of stimulated cells with columbin did not inhibit the translocation of NF-κB to the nucleus in LPS-stimulated cells. COX-1 and COX-2 inhibitory activities of columbin were 63.7±6.4% and 18.8±1.5% inhibition at 100μM, respectively. Molecular docking study further helped in supporting the observed COX-2 selectivity. Whereby, the interaction of columbin with Tyr385 and Arg120 signifies its higher activity in COX-2, as Tyr385 was reported to be involved in the abstraction of hydrogen from C-13 of arachidonate, and Arg120 is critical for high affinity arachidonate binding. Additionally, columbin inhibited oedema formation in mice paw. Lastly, the compound was observed to be safe in vitro and in vivo. This study presents columbin as a potential anti-inflammatory drug.