Journal of Pharmaceutical Research

M. U. Adikwu ¹, E. C. Ibezim ¹, J. O. Okafor ², P. A. Akpa ³

Affiliations
1 Science and Technology Education Post- Basic, National Commission for Colleges of Education Tower, Opposite Akwa Ibom House, Plot 829 Cadastral Zone AO1, Abuja, FCT, NG
2 Federal Othopaedic Hospital, Enugu, NG
3 2Department of Pharmaceutics, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Nigeria, Nsukka Enugu State, NG

Abstract

This work focuses on the skin permeation properties of drug formulations such as ointments, creams and gels produced using various quantities of mucin, honey and their admixtures (mucinated -honey (MH) containing salicylic acid as the model drug. Permeation studies involved the assessment of the transdermal migration of salicylic acid across excised rat skin at room temperature using phosphate buffered saline as the release medium. Results obtained indicate that formulations containing mucinated honey (MH) showed higher salicylic acid release than those containing only mucin or honey alone. Furthermore, the apparent permeability (P_app) values obtained for ointments varied between 2.036 × 10^-4 to 2.372 × 10^-4 cm²S^-1 while those obtained for creams ranged from 2.726 -3.027 × 10^-4cm²S^-1. Additionally, the Papp values for the gels formulated were between 2.5174 and 2.9368 × 10^-4 cm² S^-1. Results for the steady state flux study of the formulations showed that MH formulations have much higher values than those obtained for formulations containing mucin or honey alone. Findings suggest that the materials handled could be possible candidates for the formulation of ointments, creams and gels for topical drug delivery applications to wounds.

Keywords

Skin Permeation, Mucinated Honey, Salicylic Acid, Apparent Permeability.

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M. U. Adikwu ¹, J. O. Okafor ², E. C. Ibezim ²

Affiliations
1 Science and Technology Education Post-Basic, National Commission for Colleges of Education Tower Building, Opposite Akwa-Ibom House, Plot 829 Cadastral Zone A01, Ralph Shodeinde Street, Opposite Akwa Ibom House, Off Ahmadu Bello Way, P.M.B. 0394, Garki, Abuja, NG
2 Department of Pharmaceutics, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Nigeria, Nsukka 410001, NG

Abstract

In this work, the various topical formulations of mucin, honey and their admixtures (mucinated-honey) (MH) were investigated in wound treatment. Their wound healing effects, tissue re-epithelialization and efficacy in wounds were compared to those of silver sulphadiazine cream (SSD) which was employed as the standard. Gels were used and various quantities of mucin and honey were incorporated to give the required formulations. Histological examination coupled with visual scoring allowed the assessment of changes to the wounded area. MH showed enhanced wound healing when compared with mucin alone, honey alone or SSD. The combination resulted in up to 89% wound healing on day 15 compared to 74 % for honey and 80% for mucin alone. The wounds that were treated with gel preparations of MH had the fastest resolution of the inflammatory, proliferative and maturation phases of wound healing. The wounds showed early resolution of oedema, fever, minimal scar, early establishment of angiogenesis, fibroblast cells and high density keratinocytes than mucin, honey or SSD formulations. Organoleptically, the MH formulations had better stability characteristics when stored under use conditions for 12 months. MH accelerated wound healing in rats when compared with mucin, honey and SSD. This may be attributed to the synergy in mucin-honey admixture when applied to full thickness experimental wounds in rats. The relevance of MH in wound healing has been established in this study.

Keywords

Gels, Full Thickness Wound, Mucinated-Honey, Wound Healing.

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