Microencapsulation of a Mixture of Herbal Extracts by Non Solvent Addition Method

  Stress is a biological response to aversive conditions that tend to threaten or perturb the homeostasis of the organisms. Stress is one of the basic factors in the etiology of number of diseases and stress has been postulated to be involved in pathogenesis of various diseases, such as psychiatric disorders like depression and anxiety, immune suppression, endocrine disorder like diabetes mellitus, impotency, cognitive dysfunction, peptic ulcer, ulcerative colitis and cardiovascular disorder like atherosclerosis and hypertension. So a mixture of herbal extracts like Arjuna, Ashwagandha, Brahmi and Shankhapushpi in equal ratios was microencapsulated using different types of wall polymers by non solvent addition method. Microcapsules were evaluated for their percentage yield, percentage actual drug content, percentage extract entrapment efficiency, flowability and drug release kinetics. Kollicoat SR 30 D and aluminium stearate were observed as effective in prevention of particle aggregation during phase separation.  Microcapsules were shown controlled drug release pattern for 12 hours due to the presence of Eudragit RS 100 and Eudragit RL 100. Both these wall polymers are responsible for controlling the drug release from microcapsules through diffusion in phosphate buffer medium having pH 7.4.