RELEASE STUDY OF DEXAMETHASONE FROM DIFFERENT OINTMENT BASES

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

Department of Pharmaceutics, Faculty of Pharmacy, Assiut University, Assiut, Egypt

Abstract

The effect of various additives on the release of dexamethazone from different ointment bases was investigated. It was found that the rate of dexamethazone release was greater from water-soluble base and oil-in-water emulsion ointment base than from oleaginous, absorption or water-in-oil emulsion bases. Propylene glycol followed by glycerin exhibited the best effect on the amount of drug release with the different concentrations used. The incorporation of water-in-oil emulsion base decreased the rate of drug release (even less than the control) than any of the other additives. It was also concluded that the best release of dexamethazone was obtained from the bases which were of similar nature to the diffusion medium. Other factors such as the characteristics of bases and the additives as well as their effect upon the solubility of the drug in the mixture may play a part.