Preparation, characterization and evaluation of topical therapeutic system of sarcostemma anti-inflammatory herbal drug

Abstract

Herbal medicines are in great demand in both developed and the developing countries in primary healthcare because of their great efficacy and little or no side effects. Sarcostemma acidum Wight. and Arn. (Asclepidacea) commonly known as soma and somlata is a leafless, trailing Shrub. Sarcostemma acidum is a folk medicinal plant and it contain varies active constituent which have some pharmacological activity. The study is aimed at development of topical therapeutic system from Sarcostemma acidum herbal plant for the treatment of today s major problem that is inflammation which may be caused due to several reasons. A well documented survey, pharmacognostical studies and physicochemical studies were carried out. The ethanolic and ethyl acetate extract of the stem of S. acidum were studied for in vitro anti-inflammatory activity by HRBC membrane stabilization method. Ethyl acetate extract at concentration 6mg/ml showed maximum anti-inflammatory activity among all extract. The hydrogel, hydroalcohalic gel and ethosomal gel formulations of ethanolic and ethyl acetate extract were designed by using varied concentration of carbopol and sodium CMC polymer. The formulations were characterized for various parameters such as spreadability, viscosity, pH, drug content and accelerated stability studies. The best formulation of hydrogel, hydroalcohalic gel and ethosomal gel were then evaluated for in-vitro drug release, anti-inflammatory activity, skin irritation study and stability study. newlineThe in-vitro percentage drug release studies revealed that ethosome gel containing EE and EAE extract was observed to be 26.86% and 28.31% (at 30 min.) and 62.75% and77.98% (at 240 min.) respectively. In-vitro anti-inflammatory studies by HRBC membrane stabilization method revealed that percentage inhibition of HRBC haemolysis in hypotonic solution of ethosome containing EAE extract was observed to be 75% (at 240 min.). In-vivo anti-inflammatory study of optimized formulation was conducted by formalin induce paw edema model using albino rats.