Design of Lipid Nanoparticles Containing Fenugreek Seed Extract

Background: The main purpose of this study was to maximize the efficacy of fenugreek seed extract by loading it in an optimised solid lipid nanoparticles (SLNs) formula.

Methods: To achieve an effective extraction method, preliminary studies were carried out to confirm the extract, and the extract was standardised using trigonelline. The influence of independent variables lipid concentration (X1), surfactant concentration (X2), and cosurfactant concentration (X3) on dependent variables particle size (Y1) and entrapment efficiency (Y2) was also studied and optimised using the Box–Behnken design. Melt emulsification followed by ultrasonication was used to prepare SLN formulations. To understand the effect of independent variables on the dependent quality parameters, response surface plots and mathematical equations were produced.

Results: The results confirmed that soxhalation was the most suitable method for extraction of fenugreek seeds, confirmed by standardization. Further optimization revealed that particle sizes ranged from 193.4 to 312.3 nm, with entrapment efficiencies ranging from 61.2 to 74.32 percent. This implies that the developed formulations can be used for further in vitro and in vivo characterizations.