Development and Validation of Bioenhancer-based Phospholipid Complexes with Exceptional Immunomodulatory and Antioxidant Potential

Background: Combination therapy with polyphenol-rich natural spices has gained acceptance as a proactive approach for modulating human health owing to the COVID-19 pandemic. However, bioavailability is a significant hurdle in determining the actual potential of any herbal drug. Aim & Objective: To improve the absorption of herbal drugs and to enhance their ability to affect the immune system, phospholipid complexes were developed for accommodating Curcumin with extracts of commonly found dietary spices like Piper longum, Piper nigrum, and Zingiber officinale aiming to have an effective immunomodulatory phytoformulation subduing the bioavailability limitation of Curcumin and delivery hurdle of phytoextracts for combination therapy. Since combination therapy with polyphenol-rich natural spices had surfaced as an effective mode of immunomodulation, phospholipid complexes were designed for encapsulating polyphenol-rich natural spices and Curcumin together and assessed for the most efficient phospholipid complexes with improved invitro therapeutic outcomes. Method: A quick and easy procedure for assessing the developed formulation using High- Performance Thin-Layer Chromatography (HPTLC) was developed. Antioxidant potential was measured by DPPH and Lipid peroxidation. Further immunomodulation was assessed in macrophages by NO inhibition assay and phagocytosis capacity. Result: The results showed that polyherbal phospholipid complexes exerted 2-fold enhanced antiradical properties (DPPH radical scavenging and inhibition of lipid peroxidation) as compared to Curcumin and significant inhibition of ROS in H2O2-induced human macrophages. Moreover, these polyherbal formulations were more effective in promoting macrophage proliferation, inhibiting LPSinduced NO production in macrophages, and enhancing phagocytosis in a dose-dependent manner. Conclusion: Thus, phospholipid complexes offer a practical approach for developing nutraceuticals with augmented bioactivity of herbal components.