Development of an Optimized Formula of Pomegranate Peel Extract Dispersible Tablet and Its Antidepressant Evaluation

Ivonne Soeliono; Tio Minaritatis Hutauruk; Martha Ervina; Ida Ayu Made Anom Sri Melia Laksmi; Nadiatul Janah; Sela Uswatun Nurul Chasanah; Eka Pramyrtha Hestianah; Lannie Hadisoewignyo

doi:10.30872/jtpc.v10i2.423

Authors

Ivonne Soeliono Universitas Katolik Widya Mandala Surabaya Author
Tio Minaritatis Hutauruk Fakultas Farmasi, Universitas Katolik Widya Mandala Surabaya, Jalan Raya Kalisari Selatan No. 1, Pakuwon City, Surabaya, Indonesia, 60112 Author
Martha Ervina Fakultas Farmasi, Universitas Katolik Widya Mandala Surabaya, Jalan Raya Kalisari Selatan No. 1, Pakuwon City, Surabaya, Indonesia, 60112 Author
Ida Ayu Made Anom Sri Melia Laksmi Fakultas Farmasi, Universitas Katolik Widya Mandala Surabaya, Jalan Raya Kalisari Selatan No. 1, Pakuwon City, Surabaya, Indonesia, 60112 Author
Nadiatul Janah Fakultas Farmasi, Universitas Katolik Widya Mandala Surabaya, Jalan Raya Kalisari Selatan No. 1, Pakuwon City, Surabaya, Indonesia, 60112 Author
Sela Uswatun Nurul Chasanah Fakultas Farmasi, Universitas Katolik Widya Mandala Surabaya, Jalan Raya Kalisari Selatan No. 1, Pakuwon City, Surabaya, Indonesia, 60112 Author
Eka Pramyrtha Hestianah Fakultas Kedokteran Hewan, Universitas Airlangga, Kampus C, Mulyorejo, Surabaya, Indonesia, 60115 Author
Lannie Hadisoewignyo Fakultas Farmasi, Universitas Katolik Widya Mandala Surabaya, Jalan Raya Kalisari Selatan No. 1, Pakuwon City, Surabaya, Indonesia, 60112 Author

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.30872/jtpc.v10i2.423

Keywords:

Dispersible Tablet; Punica granatum; Factorial Design; Antidepressant Activity

Abstract

Depression is a multifactorial disorder in which neuroinflammation—driven by chronic microglial and astrocyte activation—is recognized as an important mechanism that complements, rather than displaces, the classical monoamine hypothesis, dysregulating the monoaminergic systems that govern mood. Pomegranate (Punica granatum L.) peel polyphenols—notably punicalagin and ellagic acid—exert antidepressant-like effects principally by modulating the serotonergic and adrenergic systems and restoring stress-depleted brain monoamines, with anti-neuroinflammatory and antioxidant activity as a secondary contributor. This study developed and optimized a pomegranate peel extract dispersible tablet, validating retention of its in vivo antidepressant activity. Tablets were prepared by direct compression and optimized via a two-factor factorial design varying croscarmellose sodium (superdisintegrant) and polyvinylpyrrolidone K-30 (binder). The optimized tablet (equivalent to 100 mg/kg extract) was assessed in male BALB/c mice by the tail suspension and forced swim tests against unformulated extract and fluoxetine (20 mg/kg). The optimal formulation (11.68% croscarmellose sodium, 2.02% polyvinylpyrrolidone K-30) showed good physical quality (disintegration 87 s, friability 0.28%, hardness 6.58 kp). In both tests it significantly reduced immobility time (p < 0.05), with no significant difference from the extract or fluoxetine (p > 0.05). The dispersible tablet retained efficacy, supporting its potential as a preclinical nutraceutical candidate for depression.

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