Preformulation Studies on Piperlongumine

• Published in: PloS one 2016-03, Vol.11 (3), p.e0151707-e0151707
• Main Authors: Aodah, Alhassan, Pavlik, Aaron, Karlage, Kelly, Myrdal, Paul B
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Analysis; Anticancer properties; Antioxidants - chemistry; Antitumor activity; Apoptosis; Biocompatibility; Biomedical materials; Calorimetry, Differential Scanning; Care and treatment; Cell cycle; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; Colon; Cyclodextrins; Cyclophosphamide; Cytotoxicity; Degradation; Dioxolanes - chemistry; Dioxolanes - pharmacology; Drug Stability; Ethanol; Health aspects; Hydrogen ions; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; Kinases; Light sources; Malaria; Mass Spectrometry; Medical treatment; Melanoma; Methotrexate; Molecular mechanics; Nanoemulsions; Osteosarcoma; Pancreatic cancer; pH effects; Pharmacology; Pharmacy; Photodegradation; Physical Sciences; Physicochemical properties; Plant extracts; Polyethylene glycol; Polyoxyethylene sorbitan monooleate; Research and Analysis Methods; Sodium; Solubility; Stability; Studies; Toxicity; U.V. radiation; Ultraviolet radiation; X-Ray Diffraction
• ISSN: 1932-6203; 1932-6203
• DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0151707

Piperlongumine is a natural alkaloid extracted from piper plants which has been used traditionally for the treatment of certain diseases. This compound shows interesting in vitro pharmacological activity such as selective anticancer activity and higher cytotoxicity than methotrexate, cyclophosphamide and adriamycin on breast, colon, and osteosarcoma cancers, respectively. However, the physicochemical properties for this compound have not been well characterized. In this research, preformulation studies for piperlongumine have been performed to determine factors which influence solubility and stability which, in turn, can be used to assist future formulation development. The solubility of piperlongumine in water was found to be approximately 26 μg/ml. Using 10% polysorbate 80 as a surfactant resulted in a 27 fold increase in solubility. Cosolvents and cyclodextrins afforded concentrations of 1 mg/ml and higher. The pH degradation rate profile for piperlongumine at various temperatures shows significant instability of the drug at pH values ≥ 7 and 3, and maximum stability around pH 4. It was estimated that it would take approximately 17 weeks for piperlongumine to degrade by 10% at 25°C, pH 4. Additionally, piperlongumine showed marked photo-degradation upon exposure to an ultraviolet light source, especially in aqueous media.