STUDIES ON THE DEVELOPMENT AND EVALUATION OF COLON SPECIFIC DRUG DELIVERY SYSTEM CONTAINING MEBEVERINE

The main aim of this study was to develop Mebeverine colon specific drug delivery system with increased stability of drug in stomach and small intestine. This stability of drug was achieved by coating of the drug core with Chitosan and Ethyl cellulose polymers by direct compression using tablet punching machine. Mebeverine was a drug whose therapeutic role is in the treatment of Irritable Bowel Syndrome and the associated abdominal cramping. It works by relaxing the muscle in and around the gut. It was a musculotropic antispasmodic drug without having anticholinergic side effects. The drug is also indicated for gastrointestinal spasm secondary organic disorder. The colon is a site where both local and systemic delivery of drugs can take place. Local delivery allows topical treatment of inflammatory bowel disease. However, treatment can be made effective if the drugs can be targeted directly into the colon, thereby reducing the systemic side effects. This study, mainly compares the primary approaches for Colon Specific Drug Delivery namely prodrugs, pH and time dependent systems, and microbial triggered systems, which achieved limited success and had limitations as compared with newer CDDS namely pressure controlled colonic delivery capsules, and osmotic controlled drug delivery which are unique in terms of achieving in vivo site specificity, and feasibility of manufacturing process. Mebeverine act directly on the gut muscles at the cellular level to relax them. This relieves painful muscle spasms of the gut, without affecting its normal motility.