title: A new silymarin preparation based on solid dispersion technique.
abstract: Silymarin is a hepatoprotective agent that is poorly soluble in water. The present study describes a new preparation of solid dispersions in the form of "dripping pills" designed to enhance solubility. Dripping pills of silymarin were prepared at a 1:4 ratio by the traditional fusion method with the use of a mixture of silymarin and polyethylene glycol 6000 (PEG 6000). The prepared dripping pills were spherical and 3 to 4 mm in diameter, with an average weight of 30 mg per pill and with each pill containing 5 mg of silymarin. The dissolution rates of silymarin in dripping pill and of 3 other silymarin preparations, including Yiganling Film-Coating Tablet, Yiganling Sugar-Coating Tablet, and Legalon Capsule, were determined in pH 1.2 medium. The dissolution rate (T50) of the silymarin dripping pill was found to be significantly higher (by a factor of 7.5-11) than those of the other 3 preparations.
authors.affiliation: School of Pharmacy, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China.
authors.forename: Ming-feng
authors.initials: MF
authors.lastname: Qiu
authors.forename: Wei
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Jia
authors.forename: Shao-shun
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Zhao-hui
authors.initials: ZH
authors.lastname: Xu
authors.forename: Xia
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Sun
authors.forename: Xiao-rong
authors.initials: XR
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Yong-yu
authors.initials: YY
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Guo-xiang
authors.initials: GX
authors.lastname: Xie
mesh_terms: D011092:Polyethylene Glycols / Q000737:chemistry; D020011:Protective Agents / Q000737:chemistry*; D012838:Silymarin / Q000737:chemistry*; D012995:Solubility; D013678:Technology, Pharmaceutical
chemical_list: D020011:Protective Agents; D012838:Silymarin; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols