Enhancement of the water solubility of curcuminoids by micelle formulations with ginsenosides to improve antioxidant activity, suppress nitric oxide release, and reduce lipid accumulation

This study explores the formulation of self-micelle ginsenoside saponins from Panax ginseng with curcuminoids from turmeric. Although ginsenosides are hydrophilic and poorly membrane-permeable, they increase the solubility and absorption of insoluble compounds such as curcuminoids. The optimized ginsenoside-curcuminoid (GS-CUR) formulation achieved a water solubility of 2,450 µg/mL using Response Surface Methodology (RSM) at 42.9 % (v/v) water in ethanol, 389.7 mg/mL ginsenosides, and 9.06 mg/mL curcuminoids. Analytical techniques such as SEM, X-ray diffraction, and FTIR spectroscopy confirmed the presence of curcuminoids in GS-CUR. The GS-CUR complex exhibited enhanced antioxidant activities compared to free curcuminoids. Moreover, GS-CUR suppressed the release of nitric oxide in lipopolysaccharide-stimulated RAW264.7 cells by 3.77-fold and reduced lipid accumulation in 3 T3-L1 cells by 13.2-fold more than free curcuminoids. These findings suggest GS-CUR's potential as a functional material in the pharmaceutical, cosmetic, and food industries.