NEUROPHARMACOLOGICAL EVALUATION OF INTRANASAL GUAR GUM LOADED OLANZAPINE MICROSPHERES

Background: The present work aimed to evaluate the sustained release antipsychotic activity of formulated biodegradable mucoadhesive guar gum microspheres of atypical antipsychotic drug Olanzapine (OLZ) for intranasal delivery and to reduce the dose-related side effects of the drug olanzapine. Guar gum microspheres of Olanzapine were fabricated and designed by O/W emulsion solvent evaporation technique using non-halogenated solvents and PVA and tween-80 as surfactant and stabilizer. The prepared guar gum microspheres were characterized for various physical and micrometric properties. Box Behnken design of experiment was applied for the formulation of various batches. An optimized batch was selected for in-vivo studies. Objective: This study solely emphasizes on sustained effect of formulated Olanzapine microsphere on different symptoms of schizophrenia. Material and Methods: Rats of Charles foster strain were subjected to a battery of various behavioral tests for representing positive, negative, and cognitive impairment symptoms found in schizophrenic patients. Different tests performed were open field exploratory, elevated plus maze, forced swim, passive avoidance and Morris water maze. Results and Conclusion: During in-vivo studies, prepared olanzapine formulation showed an antipsychotic effect that significantly prolonged over that of olanzapine solution for up to 48 h. The prolonged effect of Olanzapine was obtained from the optimized formulation of guar gum microspheres of Olanzapine administered intranasally, which may improve the treatment of psychotic disorders.