FORMULATION AND EVALUATION STUDIES OF VALACYCLOVIR TOPICAL GEL FOR ANTIVIRAL ACTIVITY

The present work describes a study on Formulation and Evaluation studies of Valacyclovir topical gels for Antiviral activity. Valacyclovir is a broad spectrum antiviral agent against Herpes Simplex Virus and Varicella Zoster Virus, which is specific to viral-infected cells with low toxicity and which is less toxic than earlier generation of antiviral agents and as such represents a major therapeutic advance. This drug was selected for the study because it has good percutaneous absorption and appears to be more active as antiviral activity and is well tolerated. The polymers namely Carbopol-934, Hydroxypropyl methyl cellulose studied for their drug release from the gel formulations. It is evidence from the IR spectrum that all the polymers used in the gel formulations were compatible with the drug Valacyclovir. Carbopol gels were transparent, non-greasy and smooth on application. Sodium CMC and HPMC gels were opaque, non-greasy and sticking on application. The gel was prepared using 1%Carbopol-934 has maximum drug content (101.72%) than the others. The pH of the formulations ranged from 6.8 to 7.2 and viscosity is from 36,000 to 51,000cps. Extrudability of carbopol and HPMC gels were excellent than the Sodium CMC gel. The spreadability data shown that the formulation with 1% Carbopol- 934 has the highest value (8cm), whereas the others have significant values.