Formulation and Evaluation of Glycyrrhetic Acid-Loaded Topical Gel for Diabetic Wound Management

Background: Wound healing is slow in diabetic patients than normal patients which leads to prolonged inflammation and oxidative stress. Glycyrrhetic acid is naturally obtained from liquorice root. It possess antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and antioxidant property and tissue regenerating properties. Due to these pharmacological properties glycyrrhetic acid might prove beneficial for wound healing property, however, its therapeutic application is limited by poor aqueous solubility. Objective: Formulation and evaluation of topical gel delivery system loaded with glycyrrhetic acid using Carbopol 934 and hydroxypropyl methylcellulose for the management of diabetic wounds. Methods: 8 batches (F1-F8) of gel were formulated and evaluated for appearance, pH, spredability, rheology, drug content uniformity, particle size and zeta potential. Further, the optimized batch were evaluated in an excision wound healing model for a period of 20 days in streptozotocin induced diabetic rats. Results: Among 8 bathes, F5 was found to be best optimized batch. The pH of F5 was found to be 5.8, spreadability 18.4 g. cm/s, pseudolastic flow, drug content uniformity was found 94.44%. Particle size and zeta potential of optimized formulation is 300.3mm and −66.7 mV respectively. These results indicates successful sub-micron drug dispersion and good colloidal stability. In the diabetic wound model, the optimized gel reduced the wound contraction by 95.1% at the end of 20 day study compared with the control group. Conclusion: Optimized glycyrrhetic acid gel (F5) was found to be stable and skin compatible. It significantly accelerates wound healing wound healing due its anti-inflammatory and antixidant property supporting its potential as a targeted therapy for diabetic wound.