Formulation Development of Anti-psoriatic Topical Babchi Oil Emulgel

Abstract

Abstract
Psoriasis is an inflammatory condition associated with painful, itchy, scaly skin and disfiguring skin lesions. It is an autoimmune disease that appears on the skin. The immune system plays a key role in psoriasis. The lack of possible cure and associated disadvantages in allopathic medicines has led to extensive research in natural products with anti-psoriatic activity. Psoralea corilyfolia (Babchi oil) was found to be efficacious and cheap anti-psoriatic drug with least side effects as compared to the synthetic drugs used in the treatment of psoriasis. The aim of the present investigation was to explore the possibilities of using anti-psoriatic herbal drug in the topical dosage form and to design and develop biphasic drug delivery system of herbal anti-psoriatic drug in the form of emulgel. The effect of formulation variables on the responses were statistically evaluated by applying one-way ANOVA. 23 factorial design was implemented for optimization of microemulsion that contained three independent variables at two levels + 1 and −1. The two levels were decided on the basis of trial batches and their evaluation. The factorial batches were evaluated and the effect of individual variable was studied according to the response surface methodology. The optimized batch P8 was formulated on the basis of response surface plots and was evaluated for %EE and %DR followed by in vivo studies. From the in vitro studies, formulation P8 presented maximum release of 94.20% in 6 hrs. The formulation P8 was comparable with marketed Tacrolimus ointment. The results indicated that the optimized batch containing drug P. corilyfolia (Babchi oil) exhibited good results. Thus, the results indicate that an effective herbal formulation containing Babchi oil can be prepared overcoming the side effects posed by synthetic drugs.
Keywords: Psoriasis, Babchi oil, emulgel