The Feasibility of Novel Liposome Consisted of Sphingomyelin and β-sitosterol for Gypenosides Delivery

The limited stability of liposome and high dose of cholesterol severely restricts the application of liposome as an effective formulation in food and drug fields. The feasibility of novel liposomes consisting of sphingomyelin and β-sitosterol, with high stability and lowering cholesterol function, was investigated. The result of molecular modeling indicated that liposome consisting of sphingomyelin and β-sitosterol was practicable. Gypenosides loaded liposome consisting of sphingomyelin and β-sitosterol (GSSL) was successfully prepared attaining a 91.3% entrapment efficiency, exhibiting an average particle size of 205 nm; −33.1 mV zeta potential with smooth continuous surface was observed by AFM. The results of stability experiments indicated that GSSL was more stable than that ordinary gypenosides loaded liposome composed of lecithin and cholesterol (GLCL). Furthermore, GSSL demonstrated much better lipid lowering effects than ordinary GLCL liposome. Therefore, replacing lecithin and cholesterol with sphingomyelin and β-sitosterol in preparation of liposomes is feasible and recommended.