FORMULATION AND EVALUATION OF RUTIN TRIHYDRATE EMULGEL

Emulgels (emulsion gels) are a class of biphasic semi-solid formulations, having aqueous and non-aqueous phases, delivering both hydrophilic and lipophilic agents. The main advantage of an emulgel is that lipophilic drugs can be easily formulated as emulgels. Rutin trihydrate is an herbal drug used for topical treatment of inflammation. However, its poor water solubility (0.125 mg/ml) presents a hindrance for its local bioavailability and limits effective anti-inflammatory activity. The aim of the current study was to formulate and optimize rutin trihydrate emulgel to enhance its efficacy and stability. 28 formulations were developed with various types of gelling agents like Carbapol 934 (0.8 and 1% w/v), Xanthum gum (1.5 and 2% w/v), HPMCk15 (2, 2.5 and 3% w/v),HPMC K100 (2, 2.5% w/v), guar gum (1, 1.5 and 2% w/v), badam gum (1% w/v) and using various permeation enhancers like clove oil, eucalyptus oil and oil of orange (10 and12.5% v/v). The optimised formulation (f8) was yellow in colour, homogeneous with good consistency, possessed pH of 6.51±0.04 that is very close to that of normal skin (6-7), drug content of 98.7%, viscosity of 14,680cps at 30rpm, spreadability 13.5gm.cm/sec and extrudability 36.2% and in vitro drug release of 79.3% for 7 hrs, ex vivo drug release of 70.08% was stable for 3 months and was having comparable anti inflammatory activity with that of marketed formulation.