Development of the composition of extemporaneous ointment for the treatment of musculoskeletal conditions

Abstract

Introduction. Approximately 1.71 billion people worldwide have musculoskeletal conditions (MSCs), which include over 150 conditions. They range from the sudden onset and short-lived conditions to lifelong conditions associated with ongoing functional limitations and disabilities. Usually they are characterized by pain and limited mobility, which reduces the ability of people to work. Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are the first-line drugs for symptomatic treatment of MSCs. Skin delivery of NSAIDs offers several advantages over the oral route associated with potential side effects. The efficacy and safety profile of meloxicam is largely determined by the mechanism of its action and makes it a promising ingredient to treat diseases of MSCs, namely for the creation of topical dosage forms of combined action. Meloxicam, unlike some other anti-inflammatory medicines, is chondroneutral: it does not destroy cartilage and does not suppress the activity of chondrocytes, substances that ensure its renewal. It is also known that meloxicam in the body does not interact with other drugs, which is of great importance for the rational therapy of patients with concomitant diseases, especially in old age. The aim of this work is to develop an extemporaneous ointment with meloxicam of combined action to treat musculoskeletal conditions. Material and methods. Ointment samples were made on hydrophilic and emulsion bases, considering the solubility of the active pharmaceutical ingredients. Thermal and colloidal stability, pH values, biopharmaceutical research were determined by accepted methods. Results and discussion. Samples of the ointment containing meloxicam are a homogeneous mass of soft consistency with yellowish color and specific odor of menthol. While valuating the thermal stability of five samples of ointment to treat MSCs, it was found that this indicator did not match for sample 2. When centrifuging this sample; the ointment was separated into a fatty and aqueous phase. The pH value for all ointment samples corresponded to the pH of the skin. When studying release of meloxicam from the ointment using the agar gel diffusion method, it was found that an ointment containing dimethyl sulfoxide based on a PEG alloy provides the best release within 24 hours. Conclusion. For the MSCs treatment has proposed the composition of the extemporaneous ointment which contains meloxicam and menthol. The technology of ointment on a hydrophilic base with introducing dimethyl sulfoxide has been developed. Thermal and colloidal stability, pH values, were studied. The conducted biopharmaceutical studies made it possible to verify the rationality of the choice of the base and auxiliary substances of the ointment, which was characterized by the best release of meloxicam. Keywords: nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, musculoskeletal conditions, ointment, technology, stability.