Formulation and in vitro evaluation of carbopol 934-based modified clotrimazole gel for topical application.

The aim of present study was to enhance topical permeation of clotrimazole gel preparation by using various permeability enhancers such as coconut oil, pistachio oil and sodium lauryl sulphate (SLS). Clotrimazole gel preparations were prepared and optimized by using three factor, five level central composite design. A second-order polynomial equation was generated in order to estimate the effect of independent variables i.e. coconut oil (X1), pistachio oil (X2) and sodium lauryl sulphate (X3) at various dependent variables i.e. flux (Y1), lag time (Y2), diffusion coefficient (Y3), permeability coefficient (Y4), and input rate (Y5) of clotrimazole gel formulations. Ex vivo skin permeation study was performed through rat skin by using modified Franz diffusion cell system. Optimized formulation F8 exhibited highest flux 2.17 µg/cm2/min, permeability coefficient 0.0019 cm/min and input rate 1.543 µg/cm2/min, along with moderate lag time 77.27 min and diffusion coefficient 0.063 cm2/min, which is further supported by anti-fungal activity that exhibited more prominent zone of inhibition against Candida albicans, Aspergillus niger and Mucor. Thus, it can be concluded that permeation of clotrimazole gel was enhanced by various combination of coconut oil, pistachio oil and sodium lauryl sulphate but optimized formulation F8 containing 0.4 ml pistachio oil, 0.8 ml coconut oil and 0.04 g of SLS exhibited more pronounced and promising effect through rat skin.

Antioxidant and hypoglycemic effect of Otostegia aucheri methanolic extract in streptozotocin-induced diabetic male long-Evans rats.

Present study is based on the investigation of antioxidant and antihyperglycemic effect of methanolic extract from areal parts of Otostigea aucheri (OA). 2,2-Diphenyl-1 -picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) method was used to measure the antioxidant activity of extract of the species Otostigea aucheri. The observed scavenging activity for the free radicals was significant and it was compared with the standard BHT inhibition method. The IC50 value obtained of methanolic extract was 2.23 microg/mL. The methanolic extract of OA on the blood glucose level was further studied in normal (non-diabetic), streptozotocin (STZ)-induced type I and type II diabetic male Long-Evans rats at postprandial glucose load state. The results revealed that the oral administration of methanolic extract (1.25 g/kg) of OA showed no remarkable hypoglycemic effect in normal and type 1 (IDDM) diabetic rats. However, the methanolic extract significantly lowered (p < 0.005) serum glucose level in type II diabetic (NIDDM) models when simultaneous glucose was administered. This screening for antioxidant activity interprets the pernicious effects of diabetes that have been associated with mediation through the oxidation stress. The study also suggests to introduce natural source of the potential orally active antioxidant and active antihyperglycemic phytochemicals for the future. It may also improve the impaired antioxidant defense system.