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Microemulsion of babassu oil as a natural product to improve human immune system function
Authors Pessoa R, França E, Ribeiro E, Lanes P, Chaud N, Moraes L, Honorio-França A
Received 5 September 2014
Accepted for publication 7 October 2014
Published 16 December 2014 Volume 2015:9 Pages 21—31
DOI https://doi.org/10.2147/DDDT.S73756
Checked for plagiarism Yes
Review by Single-blind
Peer reviewer comments 5
Editor who approved publication: Professor Shu-Feng Zhou
Rafael Souza Pessoa,1 Eduardo Luzia França,1,2 Elton Brito Ribeiro,1 Patrícia Kelly Dias Lanes,1 Natalina Galdeano Abud Chaud,1 Lucélia Campelo Albuquerque Moraes,2 Adenilda Cristina Honorio-França1,2
1Post Graduate Program in Material Science, 2Institute of Biological and Health Science, Federal University of Mato Grosso, Barra do Garças, MT, Brazil
Background: The aim of this study was to develop and characterize a babassu oil microemulsion system and determine the effect of this microemulsion on the functional activity of phagocytes.
Methods: The microemulsion was formulated using distilled water, babassu as the oil phase component, Sorbitan monooleate-Span 80® (SP), Polysorbate 80-Tween 80® (TW), and 1-butanol (BT). Pseudoternary diagrams were prepared, and microemulsion diagram regions were preselected. Rheological characterization and preliminary and accelerated stability tests were performed. The effect of the microemulsion on the interactions between leukocytes and bacteria was determined by superoxide release, phagocytosis, and microbicidal activity.
Results: The developed formulation SP/TW/BT (4.2/4.8/1.0) was classified as oil/water, showed a Newtonian profile, and had linear viscosity. When we assessed the interaction of the microemulsion or babassu oil with phagocytes, we observed an increase in superoxide, phagocytosis, and microbicidal activity.
Conclusion: The babassu oil microemulsion system is an option for future applications, including for vaccine delivery systems. Babassu oil is a natural product, so is an alternative for future immunotherapy strategies, in particular for infectious diseases.
Keywords: vegetable oil, babassu, microemulsion, phagocytes, delivery systems
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