FORMULATION AND EVALUATION OF POLYHERBAL EMULGEL FOR RHEUMATOID ARTHRITIS

Abstract

The present study was conducted to develop an emulgel formulation containing potential herbal anti-inflammatory agent viz., turmeric, ginger, black paper, menthol. Inflammation and rheumatism remain serious problem in the present era. Although there are number of allopathic formulation available in market for the treatment of inflammation, but these suffer from side effects like heartburn, stomach pain, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, constipation, liver damage, fluid retention, nephrotoxiciy etc. It is considered that the herbal medication as safer as compared to that of allopathic medicine in the market. The herbal components ginger, turmeric, black paper menthol has been selected for the development of anti-inflammatory formulation, as from literature review it revealed that these are effective in the treatment of inflammation. Ultrez 20 (corbomer) was used as gelling agent ultrez 20 has several advantages over traditional corbopol, ultrez 20 wet within a 5 min whereas traditional corbopol take 12-15 hrs for wetting. The emulgel were subjected for evaluation on the basis of appearance, pH, spreadability, extrudability, rheological behavior, in vitro release performance, anti-inflammatory study and were compared with marketed preparation containing diclofenac sodium. The anti-inflammatory study suggests that formulation emulgel is superior to that of all formulation including marketed gel and emulgel.