Development and Quality Evaluation of Betalain-Enriched Nutraceutical Capsules from Beta vulgaris

Abstract

Introduction: Iron deficiency anemia, a common nutritional disease, affects health, productivity and quality of life. Conventional iron supplements often cause gastrointestinal adverse effects, leading to low patient compliance. Due to their improved tolerability and therapeutic benefits, plant-based nutraceuticals are popular. Beetroot is rich in iron and betalain pigments, which may promote erythropoiesis and reduce oxidative stress. Methods: Fresh beetroot tubers were processed to obtain powdered material, which was further extracted and analyzed using UV-visible spectrophotometry for estimation of betalain content and analytical characterization. Two capsule formulations were developed using direct filling and wet granulation techniques. The prepared formulations were evaluated for preformulation parameters such as flow properties and postformulation parameters including weight variation, disintegration time, assay, content uniformity and in vitro dissolution. All evaluations were carried out in accordance with pharmacopoeial standards. Results: Both formulations showed satisfactory physicochemical properties and complied with pharmacopoeial requirements. The prepared capsules exhibited good flow characteristics, uniform weight variation, rapid disintegration, and acceptable content uniformity. In vitro dissolution studies indicated effective drug release from both formulations, with the wet granulation method demonstrating slightly improved dissolution performance compared to the direct filling method. Conclusion: The developed Beta vulgaris-based herbal capsules demonstrated desirable quality attributes and met standard evaluation criteria. The findings indicate that the formulation may serve as a safe and effective nutraceutical option for improving iron levels and providing antioxidant support in the management of iron deficiency anemia.