Degradation in Pharmaceutical Creams: Ascorbic Acid Demonstrating Phenomenon: A Review

Abstract

This review is compilation of studies performed on stability and degradation of Ascorbic acid (AA) creams by keeping goal in mind to finely demonstrate the central premise of this article that is to cover all aspects related to degradation in pharmaceutical creams. It was required to deep insight into degradation specifically in pharmaceutical creams, influences for phenomenon, degradation products, stability concerns and its effects on efficacy and safety of pharmaceutical creams. Method: A literature survey was carried out using scientific websites for publications according to predetermined search sequence. Ascorbic acid cream was taken as model in few articles to illustrate relevant studies. Result: Light, temperature, pH, microbial contamination, incompatibility of active ingredient or excipients, closure and packing material are the influential factors that may led pharmaceutical creams towards instabilities or degradation. Conclusion: This article concludes with the overview of published articles that there are certain factors of degradation in creams and by routine stability testing and adopting appropriate precautionary measures degradation in creams can be controlled and minimize.

Anti-Aging Activity and Modes of Action of Compounds from Natural Food Sources

“…Vitamin C, or ascorbic acid, is an essential dietary nutrient and one of the naturally occurring antioxidants in nature [219,220]. It has been shown that vitamin C is capable of repairing DNA, alleviating oxidative stress, and modulating the activity of telomeres in the aging process, thereby eventually leading to longevity [221].…”

Ácido ascórbico associado ao ácido cafeico em formulações tópicas: avaliação da ação antioxidante e peroxidação lipídica

“…O ácido 2,3 dicetogulônico e o furfural são compostos finais de degradação do AA e intermediários de furona, que ocasionam à formação de pigmentos dourado ao marrom; produção de odores estranhos, que diminuem a qualidade geral do produto no qual o AA está inserido e forma dióxido de carbono (CO2) que, quando liberado, confere aspecto aerado ao produto (JUTJUS et al, 2015;MAIA, 2002). Assim, a formulação cosmética pode apresentar comportamento complexo, como a formação de produtos de degradação que podem ser tóxicos ou não, quebra das bases dos cremes, instabilidade física e química (NAVEED et al, 2016;MAIA, 2002), tornando as preparações inadequadas para o uso.…”