Abstract:
Emulgel is a novel topical drug delivery system
which can overcome the major limitation of gel;
limited delivery of hydrophobic drugs. Leea
indica (Burm.f.) Merr. (Burulla) is a medicinal
plant used in Sri Lankan Ayurvedic medicine
for many therapeutic purposes. The present
study was aimed to develop a novel herbal
emulgel using Leea indica leaf extract and
evaluate in vitro anti-inflammatory and
antioxidant activities. Different formulations
(Fg1-Fg5) were prepared by incorporating
freeze dried powder of 70% aqueous acetone
leaf extract. All formulations (Fg1-Fg5) were
tested for their physicochemical stability
parameters such as pH, appearance, odor,
homogeneity, spread ability, phase separation
and washability for 60 days and they were
subjected for in vitro anti-inflammatory activity
by Human Red Blood Cell membrane
stabilization assay and in vitro antioxidant
activity by 2, 2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl
(DPPH) assay respectively. Two commercially
available gels were used as the positive control.
Among the formulated herbal emulgels, Fg5
showed the significantly high values of in vitro
anti-inflammatory and antioxidant activities
compared to the tested positive controls. At the
concentration of 12.5 mg/mL, Fg5 showed
percentage inhibition of 93.73 ± 0.90% of heat
induced hemolysis of erythrocytes and in vitro
antioxidant activity of Fg5 was 3.39 ± 0.01
mmol Trolox per 100 g of emulgel. All
formulated emulgels were found to be semi solid, homogenous, and washable with water,
having no phase separation and pH of the
formulations were reported in the range of 6 to
7. There was no remarkable variation of
stability parameters tested during 60 days. It is
concluded that the formulated herbal emulgels
have promising anti-inflammatory and
antioxidant activities and formulation Fg5 can
be recommended for further investigations
using in vivo models.
