Design and evaluation of bioenhanced oral tablets of Dunaliella salina microalgae for treatment of liver fibrosis

The application of Dunaliella salina (D. salina) microalgae in nutraceutical products is limited due to poor aqueous solubility and consequently low bioavailability of the existing β-carotene. The aim of the present study is the design of bioenhanced oral tablets of D. salina powder prepared by direct compression technique using the novel solubilizer, Sepitrap™ 80, and bioenhancers as bile salts. The results showed that all prepared tablets manifested uniform diameter and thickness. The eligibility of the prepared tablets was confirmed by the friability test. The addition of the novel solubilizer, Sepitrap™ 80, as well as crospovidone significantly reduced the disintegration time and improved the dissolution rate of β-carotene. Further enhancement was observed after the addition of bile salts. The oral antifibrotic effect of the optimized oral tablets of D. salina powder was evaluated in a thioacetamide- (TAA-) induced fibrosis model in rats. The bioenhanced oral tablets of D. salina powder reduced liver function enzymes, serum levels of interleukin-6, tumor necrosis factor-alpha, transforming growth factor-beta, hepatic contents of collagen-1, alpha-smooth muscle actin, elevated matrix metalloproteinase-9 significantly and finally improved the histopathological feature of hepatocytes. Hence, bioenhanced oral tablets of D. salina powder have a promising antifibrotic potential against TAA-induced fibrosis in rats.