Novel double nanoemulsion loading of Cordyceps militaris extract: formulation, stability, in vitro digestion, and in vivo evaluation for regulation of acute lipid disorders

Abstract

This study explores a novel approach for addressing acute lipid disorders using a double nanoemulsion system (NCMs) loading Cordyceps militaris extract. Cordyceps militaris, a medicinal mushroom, is valued for its bioactive compounds, particularly adenosine (ADE) and cordycepin (COR), which possess lipid-regulating properties. However, their limited stability and bioavailability present challenges. Therefore, this research focused on formulating a NCMs to enhance ADE and COR delivery. NCMs exhibited a mean droplet size of ∼102.8 nm with a PDI of 0.190 and a high encapsulation efficiency of over 90% for both ADE and COR. The in vitro stability of NCMs under simulated gastrointestinal conditions (SGF/SIF, varying temperature and pH) was confirmed, with a sustained release profile showing less than 15% release in SGF after 2 hours, followed by a marked increase in SIF, reaching approximately 75% release of ADE and 78% release of COR within 4 hours. Furthermore, the ex vivo efficacy of NCMs in modulating acute lipid disorders was assessed using a tyloxapol-induced hyperlipidemia mouse model. Results demonstrate that NCMs significantly reduced triglyceride levels (−75.67% reduction compared with the hyperlipidemic control, p < 0.05) and cholesterol (−45.45% reduction compared with the hyperlipidemic control, p < 0.05) in the tyloxapol-induced hyperlipidemia animal model. Results indicate the successful development of a stable, nano-sized NCMs, with promising in vitro release characteristics. The in vivo findings demonstrate the potential of the Cordyceps militaris extract-loaded NCMs to effectively regulate acute lipid imbalances. This study provides valuable insights into a functional food and a novel approach for managing lipid disorders, warranting future research in chronic models and clinical trials.