The efficacy of microemulsion‐based delivery to improve vitamin E properties: evaluation of the antinociceptive, antioxidant, antidepressant‐ and anxiolytic‐like activities in mice

• Published in: Journal of pharmacy and pharmacology 2018-12, Vol.70 (12), p.1723-1732
• Main Authors: Wilhelm, Ethel A., Vogt, Ane G., Reis, Angélica S., Pinz, Mikaela P., Souza, Jaqueline F., Haas, Sandra E., Pereira, Albanin A. M., Fajardo, André R., Luchese, Cristiane
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Analgesics - administration & dosage; Analgesics - pharmacology; Animals; Anti-Anxiety Agents - administration & dosage; Anti-Anxiety Agents - pharmacology; antidepressant; Antidepressants; Antidepressive Agents - administration & dosage; Antidepressive Agents - pharmacology; antinociceptive; antioxidant; Antioxidants; Antioxidants - administration & dosage; Antioxidants - pharmacology; anxiolytic; Behavior, Animal - drug effects; Canola oil; Catalase; Drug Delivery Systems; Emulsions; Latency; Male; Mice; microemulsion; Microemulsions; Pain perception; Thiobarbituric acid; Vitamin E; Vitamin E - administration & dosage; Vitamin E - pharmacology
• ISSN: 0022-3573; 2042-7158
• DOI: 10.1111/jphp.13018

Objectives A microemulsion‐based delivery system was designed to improve vitamin E (VE) properties, and its antinociceptive, antioxidant, antidepressant‐ and anxiolytic‐like activities in mice were evaluated. Methods Male Swiss mice received, by intragastric route, canola oil (20 ml/kg), blank microemulsion (B‐ME) (20 ml/kg), VE free (VE‐F) (200 mg/kg) or VE microemulsion (VE‐ME) (200 mg/kg). In acute treatment, a single dose of treatments was administrated and 30 min after behavioural tests were performed. In the subchronic treatment, mice received such treatments, once a day, for 8 days. On the eighth day, behavioural tests were performed. Key findings In the subchronic treatment, VE‐ME increased entries and spent time in the open arms in the elevated plus‐maze test and decreased the immobility time in the tail suspension test, but no change was found after acute treatment. Acute and subchronic treatments with VE‐ME increased response latency to thermal stimulus in the hot‐plate test. VE‐ME decreased the thiobarbituric acid reactive species levels in the acute and subchronic protocols. Additionally, in subchronic treatment, VE‐ME increased renal catalase activity, but VE‐F reduced its activity. Conclusions Vitamin E‐microemulsions showed antioxidant, antinociceptive, antidepressant‐ and anxiolytic‐like actions; thus, ME‐based delivery improved pharmacological properties of VE.