DESIGN, DEVELOPMENT AND EVALUATION OF TOPICAL ANTIINFLAMATORY HERBAL GEL

The objective of the present investigation was to develop topical curcuminoids containing gel as an anti-inflammatory. The first gel base was prepared by using various different concentrations of Carbopol 934, Propylene glycol 400, Methylparaben, Propylparaben, and required amount of distilled water. The optimized base was selected for the incorporation of different concentrations of curcuminoids (CM) and fixed concentration of tulsi oil (TO) and eucalyptus oil (EO). Then skin pH (6.8-7) was maintained by the dropwise addition of tri-ethanolamine. Prepared formulations were evaluated for physical appearance, pH, spreadability, viscosity, and homogeneity. Prepared formulations have proceeded for skin irritation on an animal model (rabbit). All gels were evaluated for anti-inflammatory activity by using carrageenan-induced rat paw edema model on Albino Wistar rats of either sex (150-200 gm). Change in edema volume of the rat hind paw was measured, and percent inhibition was calculated. Stability studies have carried out as per ICH guidelines for 3 months at different temperatures and humidity. Results reveal that all formulations have shown good appearance, homogeneity, and spreadability. The viscosity of all formulations is ranging between 4000-4500 centipoises. All formulations have shown no skin irritation, i.e., erythema and edema to animals. Formulations F3 and F4 significantly inhibited the inflammation to the extent of 26.83%, 43.90% at 3 h, and 37.78%, 57.77% 4 h, respectively, while the reference drug; diclofenac sodium reduced the inflammation by 60.97% at 3 h and 73.33% at 4 h. The anti-inflammatory effect of F4 formulation was comparable to that of diclofenac sodium at the respective time point.