title: Development and optimization of boswellic acid-loaded proniosomal gel.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Boswellic acids (BAs) are isolated from oleo gum of Boswellia serrata and are mainly used as potential anti-inflammatory, hypolipidemic, immunomodulatory, and antitumor agents. Pharmacokinetic investigations of BAs uncover its poor bioavailability through digestive system thus creates a need for improved therapeutic responses which can possibly be achieved by developing formulations through novel delivery system.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  Present study was conducted to design topical BA-loaded proniosomal gel for the management of inflammatory disorders with enhanced bioavailability.
  
  
  METHODS
  Nonionic surfactant vesicles were prepared using the coacervation phase separation method. A central composite design was employed to statistically optimize formulation variables using Design-Expert software. Three independent variables were evaluated: amount of surfactant (X1), amount of soya lecithin (X2), and amount of cholesterol (X3). The encapsulation efficiency percentage (Y1) and particle size (Y2) were selected as dependent variables.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The optimum formulation (F10) displayed spherical bi-layered vesicles under transmission electron microscopy with optimum particle size of 707.9 nm and high entrapment efficiency as 98.52%. In vitro skin permeation study demonstrated the most sustained release of 84.83 ± 0.153 mg/cm2in 24 h. Anti-inflammatory activity of the gel showed a significant (p < 0.001) higher percentage inhibition as compared to the marketed gel at the same dose.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The present study exhibited that BA-loaded proniosomal gel was better in terms of absorption, bioavailability, and release kinetics.
authors.affiliation: a Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences , Maharshi Dayanand University , Rohtak , India.
authors.forename: Meenu
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mehta
authors.affiliation: a Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences , Maharshi Dayanand University , Rohtak , India.
authors.forename: Harish
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Dureja
authors.affiliation: a Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences , Maharshi Dayanand University , Rohtak , India.
authors.forename: Munish
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Garg
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001682:Biological Availability; D002626:Chemistry, Pharmaceutical / Q000379:methods; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000737:chemistry; D016503:Drug Delivery Systems / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D005782:Gels / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology*; D007249:Inflammation / Q000188:drug therapy; D054709:Lecithins / Q000737:chemistry; D008081:Liposomes / Q000737:chemistry*; D008297:Male; D053758:Nanoparticles / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D010316:Particle Size; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D012867:Skin / Q000378:metabolism; D012995:Solubility; D013501:Surface-Active Agents / Q000737:chemistry; D014315:Triterpenes / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D005782:Gels; D054709:Lecithins; D008081:Liposomes; D013501:Surface-Active Agents; D014315:Triterpenes; C054625:boswellic acid; D002784:Cholesterol
keywords: Boswellia serrata; central composite design; entrapment efficiency; release kinetics; vesicle size