Abstract

DEVELOPMENT OF A NATURAL PLANT-BASED GEL FORMULA; ITS PREPARATION AND EVALUATION FOR CURRENT HERBAL MODERN TRENDS IN DRUG DELIVERY SUCH AS: TOPICAL DRUG DELIVERY IN VARIOUS SKIN/DERMAL AILMENTS

*Dr. Saurabh Dilip Bhandare

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Abstract

Current herbal modern trends in drug delivery include the development of a natural plant-based gel composition and study of it for topical drug administration in a variety of skin/dermal disorders. Gel formulations prepared with Carbopol 980, HPMC and potato starch show good homogeneity, no skin irritation, good stability and are anti-irritant to the skin. However, the potato starch-based gel proved to the formula of choice, since it showed the highest percentage of extrudability, good spread-ability and rheological properties. But the formulation was prepared with 1% leaves extract and with 1% polymer gel-based matrix of synthetic polymer Carbopol 980 incorporated with hydroalcoholic leaves extract of Azadirachta indica which showed the best formulation with significant and desired activity. Formulation with required and desired strength of matrix for drug delivery was chosen from the optimised batch development results obtained through the study. Formulation showing sufficient ability to be able to use in development of gel was chosen. Carbopol 980 was utilised to develop current gel. HPMC was not chosen as it had hard and to thick film forming ability which was not the desired requirement of the formulation that was to be developed. Hence, the need to use HPMC and potato starch was rejected due to viscosity results of the obtained solution and also film forming nature of the polymer to develop medicines for anti-viral topical drug delivery action without film forming polymers.

Keywords: Topical anti-viral gel, pain relief, wound healing and coolant gel, gel-for small pox and chicken pox treatment, anti-acne gel, anti-histaminic gel, dermal protectant.