Abstract

Physalis peruviana L. (Cape gooseberry) is a plant widely cultivated in the Andean mountain in South America and its calyces are the main by-product of the harvest and commercialization of the fruits. Hypoglycemic activity was evaluated to both hydroethanolic extract and its fractions by glucose tolerance test methodology. Since butanolic fraction exhibited hypoglycemic activity as well as the hydroethanolic extract, this fraction was microencapsulated in hypromellose phthalate (HPMCP) by emulsification-evaporation method. Rutin was the major flavonoid in the whole extract and butanolic fraction. By using Plackett-Burman and Box-Behnken statistical experimental designs, were development and optimized HPMCP-microparticles loaded with butanolic fraction. Optimized microparticles has an entrapment efficiency of 71% and yield of 64%, only 8% of release at acidic pH and significant hypoglycemic activity. Development and optimization of microencapsulated butanolic fraction of calyces from P. peruviana is an important contribution to improve the its hypoglycemic activity as a promising therapeutic alternative.

Key words: Hypoglycemic activity, microparticles, Physalis peruviana calyces, rutin.