Abstract

STUDY OF POLYHERBAL ETHOSOMAL GEL FOR GOUTY LIKE ARTHRITIS

Varsha K.* and Arun Kumar K. V.

ABSTRACT

This work aim to develop a poly herbal ethosomal gel for the management of gouty like arthritis. Gouty arthritis is a sudden, painful attack of joint inflammation due to over production and deposition of uric acid crystals in the joints. This acid can form needle-like crystals in a joint and cause of a sudden onset of a painful, hot, red, swollen joint particularly in the first metatarsophalangeal joint. Ethosomes are novel vesicular carriers that offer better skin penetration and enhanced therapeutic response. Rubia cordifolia Linn and Tinospora cordifolia Wild are two important herbal drugs with potent anti-gouty arthritic activity. The extracts of these two plants are incorporated into ethosomal vesicles which are prepared by the method developed by Touitou et al. Four different formulations were developed by varying the concentration of soya lecithin and ethanol. The prepared ethosome formulations were optimized by analyzing the morphology of the system by SEM analysis, from the particle size determination and zeta potential determination using Malvern zeta sizer nano essential and from the drug release profile obtained from free radical scavenging assay. The ethosomal formulation F4 containing 1g soyalecithin and 20ml ethanol was found to be optimized. The optimized ethosomal dispersion is incorporated into carbopol based gel. This ethosomal gel is then evaluated in terms of physical appearance, pH, spreadability, viscosity, swelling index, homogeneity, extrudability, washability and stability. The pH of the gel system was found to be compatible with skin pH. It shows good flow properties and spreadability that is essential for an ideal gel. The drug loaded ethosomal gel is subjected to animal study using MSU induced gout air pouch model to evaluate the anti gouty arthritic potential of the formulation and it was compared with standard diclofenac gel that is generally used to treat the inflammation associated with gouty like arthritis. Stability studies indicated that the formulation was stable over a period of 3 months at 25±20c and 2-8±30c

Keywords: Gouty arthritis; ethosomes; drug extract; inflammation; air pouch.