Exploring the gelling properties of Plantago ovata-based Arabinoxylan: Fabrication and optimization of a topical emulgel using response surface methodology

• Published in: PloS one Vol. 18; no. 8; p. e0290223
• Main Authors: Mahmood, Arshad, Erum, Alia, Tulain, Ume Ruqia, Malik, Nadia Shamshad, Saleem, Aneeqa, Alqahtani, Mohammed S, Malik, Muhammad Zubair, Siddiqui, Mahwish, Safdar, Asif, Malik, Abdul
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: San Francisco Public Library of Science 22.08.2023; Public Library of Science (PLoS)
• Subjects: Analgesics; Analysis; Arabinoxylans; Biology and Life Sciences; Body mass index; Computer and Information Sciences; Cost analysis; Dependent variables; Design; Design of experiments; Design optimization; Drug delivery; Drug delivery systems; Drug dosages; Drugs; Engineering and Technology; English plantain; Evaluation; Experimental design; Extrudability; Fabrication; Independent variables; Irritation; Medicine and Health Sciences; Nimesulide; Optimization; Phase separation; Physical Sciences; Plant extracts; Plantago ovata; Polymers; Properties; Research and Analysis Methods; Response surface methodology; Rheology; Skin; Stability; Vehicles; Viscosity; Zeta potential; Pakistan; United States > US; Germany
• ISSN: 1932-6203; 1932-6203
• DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0290223

Prime objective of the current research was to develop a stable nimesulide emulgel with the help of arabinoxylan, a natural gelling agent extracted from Plantago ovata. The response surface methodology was used by a Design Expert 10 software to formulate and optimize the emulgel. The experimental design approach evaluated the impact of independent and dependent variables. Independent variables were different concentrations of arabinoxylan, span 80 and tween 20, whereas, dependent variables were viscosity, pH, and content uniformity. FTIR demonstrated the compatibility of nimesulide with the excipients. Stability study indicated no phase separation and no change in pH for formulation F1, F3 and F4. The negative values of zeta potential revealed the excellent stability of emulgel. Viscosity, spreadability and extrudability values were in desired range. Ex-vivo permeation study illustrated 86%, 55% and 66% release of the drug over a period of 24 h from the formulations F1, F3 and F4, respectively. Analgesic effect of the optimized emulgel was significantly higher in test group as compared to control and did not produce any sort of irritation. Therefore, it can be concluded that the newly developed emulgel based on arabinoxylan, as gelling agent, appear to be an effective drug delivery system.