FORMULATION AND EVALUATION OF MUCOADHESIVE HERBAL ORAL GEL CONTAINING SCUTELLARIA BAICALENSIS EXTRACT FOR THE TREATMENT OF ORAL INFLAMMATORY CONDITIONS

Vollständiger Abstract

Worum geht es in dieser Arbeit?

The present study aimed to formulate and evaluate a mucoadhesive herbal oral gel containing Scutellaria baicalensis extract for the treatment of oral inflammatory conditions. The plant extract, rich in flavonoids such as baicalin and baicalein, exhibits significant anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, and antioxidant properties. Herbal gel formulations (F1-F6) were prepared using Carbopol 940 as a gelling agent with varying concentrations to optimise physicochemical and release characteristics. The formulations were evaluated for pH, viscosity, spreadability, drug content, in-vitro diffusion, antimicrobial activity, anti-inflammatory activity, and mucoadhesive strength. Results indicated that all formulations showed acceptable physicochemical properties. Among them, formulation F4 demonstrated an optimal balance of viscosity, spreadability, and sustained drug release. In-vitro diffusion studies revealed controlled drug release following Higuchi kinetics, indicating a diffusion-controlled mechanism. The formulation also exhibited significant antibacterial activity against E. coli and notable anti-inflammatory activity. The developed herbal gel showed promising potential as an effective localised drug delivery system for oral conditions.