Study of interactions of bioflavonoid quercetin with hydrotropic agent urea: An environmentally friendly approach

The plant pigment Quercetin (QUE) belongs to the flavonoid group and it is having significant biological importance. However, its poor water solubility is a matter of concern. To increase the dissolution and bioavailability of QUE, the use of hydrotropes is encouraged. As flavonoids are precisely associated with human health and dietary constituents, in the present work different concentrations of QUE are prepared in 30 % v/v, 40 % v/v ethanolic solutions of a hydrotrope, urea. The specific conductance (К) values were measured at different temperatures. Parameters like limiting molar conductance (⋀m0), association constant (Ka), thermodynamic parameters like change in free energy (ΔGA0), change in enthalpy (ΔHA0), change in entropy (ΔSA0), and activation energy (Ea)for the solvation process were derived from the К values. The results obtained give us information regarding the extent of interactions of QUE with alcoholic solutions of urea. This may help to explore the degree of hydrophobic and hydrophilic interaction in the solution, which may imply achieving stable QUE and alcoholic hydrotrope concentrations for developing pharmaceutical formulations. Since QUE are associated with plant’s responses to excruciating environmental conditions and energetically coordinate and improve cell growth and differentiation and also it may have future implications as far as aquatic environment is concerned.