Abstract

Objective: Meloxicam is a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug used to relieve the symptoms of arthritis, primary dysmenorrhea, and as an analgesic. The aim of the present study was to enhance the permeation of the drug Meloxicam through the skin by formulating an Emulgel using suitable permeation enhancers. Method: Tween 20 and Span 20 were used as emulsifiers ( 2 and 4 %), Hydroxypropyl Methyl Cellulose (HPMC K4) and Carbopol 934 were used as gelling agents. The Emulgels were prepared using various combinations of oil, emulsifiers and gelling agents. Menthol ( 5 %), Clove Oil (8%), Isopropyl Myristate (5%), Dimethyl sulfoxide (5%)and Oleic Acid (1%) were used as permeation enhances. Results: Prepared Emulgels were evaluated in terms of their appearance, pH, Spreadability, Extrudability, Drug Content, and In- Vitro Drug Release ( 8 Hours). The drug release profile exhibited zero order kinetics. The optimized formula was found to be formulation F9b containing highest concentration of Emulsifiers (4%) and Menthol as Permeation Enhancer. The amount of drug release from the optimal formula F9b was found to be 87.79 % after 8 Hours.Conclusion: The overall drug release from all the formulations were observed to follow zero order kinetics and the data obtained fitted well with Higuchi’s equation following non-Fickian mechanism. It was thus proved from this research work that Emulgel containing Meloxicam was a promising delivery system for the treatment of Rheumatoid Arthritis.