Formulation and evaluation of antipsoriatic gel using natural excipients

• Main Authors: Raghupatruni Jhansi Laxmi, R. Karthikeyan, P. Srinivasa Babu, R.V.V. Narendra Babu
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Wolters Kluwer Medknow Publications 2013-01-01
• Series: Journal of Acute Disease
• Subjects: Psoralen; Hydro alcoholic gel formulation; Natural excipients; Biological studies
• Online Access: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2221618913601109

Objective: To develop topical gel formulations of Psoralen using natural excipients to minimize the side effects of synthetic drugs. Methods: The Psoralen gel formulations were prepared using different natural gums and polymers. The physicochemical compatibility between Psoralen and other excipients was confirmed by using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. All prepared gel formulations were evaluated for drug content uniformity, viscosity, pH, and stability. The release of psoralen from all formulations using dialysis membrane into a phosphate buffer pH 6.8 at 37°C was studied. Drug release from the formulations fitted best to the Higuchi model. From the drug release data the best formulation was optimized and the biological studies on albino mice were performed. Results: Psoralen gel containing egg albumin and xanthan gum shows better incorporation of the drug. The drug activity was found to be 43.3%. Anti-psoriatic drug enhances the orthokeratotic cell differentiation in the epidermal scales. Conclusions: In vitro anti-psoriatic activity of F3 showed the significant orthokeratosis in the mouse tail test when compared to control thus indicating that the formulation is effective in treating psoriasis.