Preformulation Study of Minoxidil: A Drug for Androgenic Alopecia

Minoxidil, an antihypertensive peripheral vasodilator, is a prodrug converted to an active metabolite which is potassium (K) channel opener, act by hyperpolarizing smooth muscles. Minoxidil in the treatment of androgenic alopecia has led to the hypothesis that other pathways could mediate this form of hair loss, including infection and/or micro-inflammation of the hair follicles. It stimulates the growth of human hair by prolonging anagen through these proliferative and anti-apoptotic effects on dermal papillary cells. It acts by opening ATP-sensitive potassium channels in vascular smooth muscle cells thus improving the viability of hair follicles. The preformulation studies are prerequisite to ensure the development of therapeutically effective dosage form. The preformulation studies viz. identification of drug, quantitative estimation of drug, solubility determination, melting point determination, etc are carried out. This article also discussed the various characteristics of the drug i.e. pharmacodynamic and pharmacokinetic properties and others along with the mechanism of action of the drug. Usmania 1* , Bilandi Ajay 2 , Kataria K Mahesh 3 1 Research Scholar, M.Pharm (Pharmaceutics), Sem IV, Seth G.L. Bihani S.D. College of Technical Education, Sri Ganganagar, Rajasthan, India. 2 Assistant Professor, Dept. of Pharmaceutics, Seth G.L. Bihani S.D. College of Technical Education, Sri Ganganagar, Rajasthan, India. 3 Professor and Head, Dept. of Pharmaceutics, Seth G.L. Bihani S.D. College of Technical Education, Sri Ganganagar, Rajasthan, India. Submission: 7 November 2016 Accepted: 12 November 2016 Published: 25 November 2016 www.ijppr.humanjournals.com Citation: Usmania et al. Ijppr.Human, 2016; Vol. 7 (4): 281-293. 282