ABSTRACT:
The mucilage from the tubers of Remusatia vivipara (Family Araceae) was extracted by dissolving in water and precipitating in 90% alcohol, yield (10 %) of mucilage. Such mucilage when mixed with water, a protective and soothing preparation results. The objective of the present work is to study the Remusatia vivipara mucilage as gelling agent. To study the gelling properties, gels were prepared using Diclofenac sodium as model drug. Six batches of drug loaded gels with concentration of mucilage corresponding to 2.0,2.5,3.0,3.5,4.0 and 4.5%w/w were formulated by using glycerin as wetting agent and thiomersol as preservative. The prepared gels were evaluated for Diclofenac sodium content, pH, rheological studies such as viscosity and extrudability, Consistency, Homogeneity, Spreadability, in vitro diffusion profile and stability studies. The gel prepared with 3.5 % of Remusatia Vivipara tubers mucilage showed desired gel characteristics with better drug release profile when compared with marketed formulation. Stability study revealed that the gel formulations were physically stable.