The aim of the present investigation was to formulate and evaluate stable ketoconazole organogel preparation to increase the solubility of ketoconazole and release the drug for prolonged period of time. Ketoconazole was dissolved in clove oil. The required amount of the tween 80 and PEG 400 was added to the clove oil containing propyl paraben. Subsequently, water containing methyl paraben was added drop-by-drop to the organogelator solution with constant stirring on magnetic stirrer until there was a formation of clear microemulsion. Carbopol 934 was used as a gelling phase, slowly mixed with microemulsion in 1:1 ratio with constant and uniform stirring to get milky white homogeneous organogel. Formulated organogels were evaluated for their physical appearance, pH, viscosity, globule size, drug content, spreadability, extrudability, in-vitro and ex-vivo drug release, antifungal activity and stability. Organogel carrying ketoconazole showed good physical appearance, acceptable skin pH (6 - 6.8), non-newtonian pseudoplastic system, drug content (99.68�±0.19), globule size (572 nm), spreadability (21.67�±0.034 gm.cm/sec), good extrudability, in-vitro release (98.75�±0.32 %), ex-vivo release (73.45�±0.86 %) for optimized batch. Skin irritation study did not showed any irritation reaction and possess a good anti-fungal activity. The optimized batch OG3 showed better drug release as compared to marketed cream. Similarly ex-vivo release of formulation showed better drug release through mice skin as compared with marketed cream (KT CURE). The formulations followed zero order kinetic model followed by higuchi mechanism. Thus, results of the current study clearly indicated a promising potential of the ketoconazole organogel as an alternative to the conventional dosage form.
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