Studies on Penetration Enhancers in Corporated Cream of Clobetasol-17- Propionate: Development and in Vitro Evaluation

Topical corticosteroids have long been the chronic stage in the treatment of steroid responsive dermatitis. Creams containing 0.05% w/w Clobetasol-17-propionate (CP) as active ingredient are categorized as super potent class I topical dermatological corticosteroids. For the drug molecule to reach the cutaneous microcirculation, enhance, the systemic circulation, have to transverse both the lipophilic stratum cornium and much more viable epidermis. Penetration enhancers are thought to intact with one component of skin causing the stratum cornium to swell or leach out some of the structural component their by increasing the drug penetration to the barrier membrane. The current study was carried out to study the effect of various penetration enhancers such as oleic acid (OA), isopropyl myristate (IPM), polysorbate 80 (PS) and thymol (TM) on topical delivery of Clobetasol-17-propionate (CP) and was evaluated in-vitro using cellophane membrane as well as rat skin mounted in Franz diffusion cell. CP was analyzed spectrophotometrically at 240 nm. The efficiency of penetration enhancers to improvise topical delivery of CP was observed in the order of OA> IPM >PS>TM. INTRODUCTION: Topical glucocorticoids (TG) are the most frequently prescribed drugs by dermatologists. Their clinical effectiveness in the treatment of psoriasis and atopic dermatitis is related to their vasoconstrictive, anti-inflammatory, immunosuppressive and anti-proliferative effects. Despite their benefit in the therapy of inflammatory diseases, TG is associated with number of side effects that limit their use 1 . Most TG is absorbed in quantities that can produce both systemic and topical side effects 2 . QUICK RESPONSE CODE DOI: 10.13040/IJPSR.0975-232.4(6).2258-64 Article can be accessed online on: www.ijpsr.com One of the approaches to reduce the systemic adverse effects of TG is to enhance their permeability so as to reduce the topically applied dose 3 . Several approaches have been attempted, such as iontophoresis, electroporation or the application of penetration enhancers 4-5 . However, the use of chemical penetration enhancers is the most widely used approach to increase topical and transdermal delivery. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Clobetasol-17propionate was a gift sample from Macleods pharmaceutical Pvt. Ltd., Mumbai (Maharashtra), cetomacrogol 1000 purchased from S.D fine Chem. Ltd., Mumbai, cetosteryl alcohol, white soft paraffin, light liquid paraffin purchased from RFCL Limited, New Delhi, propylene glycol, methyl paraben, propyl paraben from Merck & co. Inc, USA, thymol from SAS Chemical co., Mumbai, isopropyl myristate from Central drug house (P) Ltd., New Delhi, oleic