ABSTRACT:
The main objective of this study was to improve the bioavailability of curcumin through buccal route. Curcumin is practically insoluble in water. After oral administration, most part of the drug was metabolized in liver. Therefore an attempt has been made to improve the bioavailability by using different conc. of sodium lauryl sulphate (0.1, 0.25 0.50 and 1 %) as bioenhancer. Buccal bilayer tablets were prepared by direct compression with different ratio of HPMC.K4M. (1, 2.5, 5 and 7.5%) as bioadhesive polymer and ethyl cellulose (10, 20, 30 and 40%) as backing layer. The formulation were characterized for physicochemical parameter such as weight variation, thickness, hardness, friability, mucoadhesive strength, drug content, swelling studies and in vitro diffusion studies. The best mucoadhesive performance and in vitro drug release profile were exhibited by tablets containing hydroxy propyl methyl cellulose K4M (5%) and sodium lauryl sulphate (0.1%). This product was more comfortable to the user due to absence of erosion, faster hydration rate and less viscosity of surrounding environment. To conclude that the formulated unidirectional, bilayered, buccoadhesive tablet for curcumin using HPMC as mucoadhesive agent is superior to oral conventional tablets, as it has the potential to bypass the first pass metabolism and improve the bioavailability of curcumin.