Tropical Journal of Pharmaceutical Research

Original Research Article | OPEN ACCESS

Evaluation of Palm Oil-Based Paracetamol Suppositories by Differential Scanning Calorimetry

Mohamed Ibrahim Noordin , Chung Lip Yong, Ilyana Mofat, Zainorwan Zainuddin, Aditya Arya, Shaik Nyamathulla

Department of Pharmacy, Faculty of Medicine, University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur-50603, Malaysia;

For correspondence:- Mohamed Noordin Email: ibrahimn@um.edu.my Tel:+60379674909

Received: 22 September 2012 Accepted: 23 November 2013 Published: 25 January 2014

Citation: Noordin MI, Yong CL, Mofat I, Zainuddin Z, Arya A, Nyamathulla S. Evaluation of Palm Oil-Based Paracetamol Suppositories by Differential Scanning Calorimetry. Trop J Pharm Res 2014; 13(1):23-29 doi: 10.4314/tjpr.v13i1.4

© 2014 The authors.
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Abstract

Purpose: To use differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) to predict the liquefaction time and dissolution profile of some commercial paracetamol suppositories as well as paracetamol suppositories formulated with palm oil base.

Methods: The suppository base was prepared by mixing hydrogenated palm oil and palm kernel stearin in a ratio of 8:2. Three commercial paracetamol suppositories (A, B, and C) were purchased, while product D, paracetamol suppository was formulated with suppository base using the double casting method. In-vitro drug release from suppositories was determined using DSC and the effect of liquefaction on drug release was studied. The relationship between suppository melting and dissolution was analysed statistically.

Results: The melting temperature of products A and B were 41.0 and 40.0 ºC respectively, whereas those of products C and D were 35.9 and 33.1 ºC, respectively. The liquefaction time of the suppositories were 61.4 (A), 54.2 (B), 9.0 (C) and 7.4 min (D). Less than 40 % paracetamol was released from products A and B in 2 h, while products C and D showed good dissolution with > 95 % drug release in 15 min. Statistical analysis using Pearson’s test indicates that the proportion of melt in the suppository base correlates well with drug release (p < 0.05).

Conclusion: Paracetamol release from palm oil suppositories is rapid and correlates with melting of the base. DSC can be used to predict drug release in paracetamol suppository formulations.

Keywords: Palm oil, Liquefaction time, Paracetamol, Suppositories, Thermal analysis