Abstract

FORMULATION OF CAPSAICIN LOADED EMULGELS USING NATURAL GUMS AND OILS FOR TOPICAL DELIVERY

Rajya Lakshmi Teku*, Chaithanya Krishna Mylangam and Venkata Ramana Murthy Kolapalli

ABSTRACT

Emulgels are either w/o or o/w type of emulsions which are gelled by mixing with gelling agent. Incorporation of emulsion into gel increases stability of emulsion and provides controlled release system. Emulgels have emerged as a promising drug delivery system for the delivery of hydrophobic drugs. The main objective of the present investigation is to study the applicability of natural gums like badam gum and gum karaya in the preparation of emulgel using capsaicin, an analgesic as drug of choice. Peppermint oil was used as oil phase of o/w emulsion and combination of Span 20 and Tween 80 was used as emulsifying agent and eucalyptus oil at different concentrations was used as permeation enhancer. The o/w emulsion was prepared with the help of required hydrophilic lipophilic balance (RHLB) value of peppermint oil using phase inversion technique. Prepared emulsion was evaluated for type of emulsion formed, drug content and globule size. Emulgel formulations containing 9% of badam gum and 12% of gum karaya were considered as optimum concentrations based on consistency and they were evaluated for its rheological property, drug content, pH determination, spreadability, skin irritation, in vitro and ex vivo drug release studies. Based on drug releases studies formulations BGE3 and GKE3 were considered as optimized formulations. In vitro drug release of the optimized formulations BGE3 and GKE3 were compared with that of the marketed Salonpas capsaicin 0.025% pain relieving gel patch. Form the obtained flux data it was observed that formulations BGE3 and GKE3 were superior to Salonpas.

Keywords: Emulgel; capsaicin; badam gum; gum karaya; topical drug delivery.