Abstract

FORMULATION AND EVALUATION OF PHYTOSOMAL GEL OF NEEM

*Narendra Ahirwal and Dr. S. K. Nayak

Abstract

The aim of present study was to prepare and evaluate phytosomal gel of Neem. Neem is a very beneficial plant that is used to cure many diseases. Every part of the neem tree like neem seed, leaves, bark, roots, twigs can be used for medicinal purposes. Even wonderful and beneficial extracts are made from this miraculous tree. Neem oil is beneficial to cure most of the skin problems that otherwise are very hard to cure. Even there are reports of treating Psoriasis and cancer with neem. All parts of Neem tree used as anthelmintic, antifungal, anti-diabetic, antibacterial, antiviral, contraceptive and sedative. Neem tree is used in many medicinal treatment like skin diseases, healthy hair, improve liver function, detoxify the blood, Pest and disease control, fever reduction, dental treatments, cough, asthma, ulcers, piles, intestinal worms, urinary diseases etc. Neem leaf paste is applied to the skin to treat acne, and in a similar vein is used for measles and chicken sufferers. Practitioners of traditional Indian medicine recommend that patients suffering from chicken pox sleep on Neem leaves. A decoction prepared from Neem roots is ingested to relieve fever in traditional Indian medicine. The bioavailability and absorption of water soluble phytoconstituents is erratic due to poor solubility of these constituents in gastrointestinal tract. This can be overcome by a novel delivery system known as phytosome technology in which water soluble phytoconstituents are allowed to react with phospholipids. For better and improved bioavailability, natural phytoconstituents must have a good balance between hydrophilicity (helps in dissolution in gastro-intestinal fluids) and hydrophobicity (helps to cross lipid rich cell membranes). This is achieved through phytosome technology. Five different type formulations formed using different concentration of drug and polymer and evaluated under various parameter like yield, drug content, particle size and Encapsulation Efficiency. For all formulation yield was 91% to 94.5%, drug content was 85% to 98% and Encapsulation Efficiency was 86 % to 98.2%. But on the basis of drug release kinetics F-3 formulation was vary good because its % drug release was 97.913%. With the 95.56% drug release F-2 formulation was good. Other three formulation drug releases were F-1 (92.765) F-4 (81.467) and F-5 (80.018). All five phytosome formulations were mix with gel and clear, odourless, washable, homogeneous, stable and free from grittiness gel was evaluated under the various parameter, pH of all formulations were observed between 7.0 to 7.4 and Spreadability between 6.6 to 7.6 cm. % drug content between 98% to 101%, and viscosity between 98 to 115 centi poice. And % permeation between 75% to 91%.Four gel formulations were F-1 to F-4 are stable but F-5 was not stable at 4oC and 40 oC and phase separation occurs.

Keywords: Neem, Phytosome, Evaluation, Hydrophilic, anthelmintic.