ANTIOXIDANT AND ANTI-CHOLESTEROL POTENTIAL OF Cyperus rotundus L. TUBER ESSENTIAL OIL AND ITS STABLE SELF-NANOEMULSIFYING DRUG DELIVERY SYSTEM FORMULATION
This study investigated the antioxidant and cholesterol-lowering potential of Cyperus rotundus L. tuber essential oil using integrated in silico and in vitro approaches, followed by formulation into a self-nanoemulsifying drug deliverysystem (SNEDDS) to improve oral bioavailability. Gas chromatography–mass spectrometry identified 22 major phytochemicals, including β-pinene, D-limonene, and caryophyllene. PASS Online predicted moderate bioactivity, with probabilities of up to 0.565 for antioxidant and 0.435 for lipid-lowering effects. Drug-likeness, pre-ADMET, and toxicity analyses indicated favourable pharmacokinetic properties and oral safety. Molecular docking showedmoderate binding affinities toward the Nrf2–Keap1 complex (−3.8 to −4.8 kcal/mol) and HMG-CoAreductase (−4.1to −4.8 kcal/mol), supporting possible multi-target antioxidant and lipid-regulating mechanisms. In vitro assaysdemonstrated DPPH radical-scavenging activity (IC50= 110.37 µg/mL) and dose-dependent cholesterol reduction(IC50 = 148.83 ppm). The optimised SNEDDS formulation, containing 1% essential oil, 20% Tween 80, and15%propylene glycol, produced nanosized droplets (50–350 nm), neutral pH (7.13), low viscosity (~6 mPa·s), andexcellent stability. Overall, these findings support the traditional use of C. rotundus and indicate its promise as adual-action natural agent against oxidative stress and dyslipidaemia, while also demonstrating the utilityof SNEDDS as a delivery platform to enhance its pharmaceutical applicability.
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