Formulation and in-vitro Evaluation of Diclofenac sodium Conventional Suppositories

Abstract

Diclofenac sodium is a non steroidal anti-inflammatory agent used in the treatment of many diseases including rheumatoid arthritis and ankylosing spondylitis . This investigation concerned with the preparation and evaluation of diclofenac sodium as conventional suppositories to achieve optimum drug release at a rectal route.The influence of suppository base type on the in vitro release of the drug and the physical properties was studied using various hydrophilic and lipophilic bases in the preparation of conventional type suppositories. Moreover the influence of storage time and storage temperature was investigated. One formula with optimum and uniform release profile were selected and stored at 4°C and 25°C for 1, 15, 30, 45 days.The result revealed that the effect of storage of suppositories prepared from polyethylene glycol base was found to cause decrease in the melting time, hardness and slight increase in the release rate because of the brittleness of these bases, while the storage of the suppositories prepared from Witepsol bases cause a slight increase in the softening time, melting time and hardness, as well as decrease in the percent of the drug release.