Research Article

In vitro and ex vivo assessments of surfactant-free topical curcumin emulgel

Volume: 27 Number: 2 June 27, 2025

In vitro and ex vivo assessments of surfactant-free topical curcumin emulgel

Abstract

Curcumin has been used in many diseases due to its high therapeutical potential in recent years. Although curcumin is a frequently used natural polyphenolic compound products, its low solubility and poor permeability limits the dermal efficacy of curcumin. Emulgels are a new generation of semi-solid formulations that combine the advantages of both emulsions and gels. The biggest limitation of emulsions is surfactant related irritation problems caused by the use of high amount of surfactants. In this study, it was aimed to increase the skin permeability of curcumin by developing surfactant-free emulgel formulations. In the study, emulgels were developed by Carbopol 940 gels as the aqueous phase, olive oil and curcumin methanol solution as the oil phase. No surfactant was used additionally to show the stabilizing effect of Carbopol in emulgels. The emulgel formulations were subjected to physicochemical characterization by means of organoleptic properties, pH, rheological and mechanical properties. Mechanical properties were carried out by texture profile analyzes to determine the structure related properties such as hardness, compressibility, adhesiveness, cohesiveness and elasticity. The spreadability of the formulations was also determined with Texture Analyzer. Obtained emulgels showed good rheological, mechanical and spreadability properties. The transdermal permeation of the chosen emulgel was studied ex vivo against hydrogel prepared with the same amount of Carbopol. The emulgel formulation significantly increased transdermal permeation compared to the hydrogel. This emulgel formulation successfully passed from stress tests. As a conclusion, the novel surfactant-free emulgel formulation was successfully developed to increase curcumin permeation through the rat skin.

Keywords

References

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Details

Primary Language

English

Subjects

Pharmacology and Pharmaceutical Sciences (Other)

Journal Section

Research Article

Authors

Özge İnal
Türkiye

Abdülkerim Barakat This is me
0000-0001-6854-4758
Türkiye

Publication Date

June 27, 2025

Submission Date

January 24, 2023

Acceptance Date

February 3, 2023

Published in Issue

Year 2023 Volume: 27 Number: 2

APA
Ergin, A. D., İnal, Ö., & Barakat, A. (2025). In vitro and ex vivo assessments of surfactant-free topical curcumin emulgel. Journal of Research in Pharmacy, 27(2), 544-556. https://izlik.org/JA72GP83PK
AMA
1.Ergin AD, İnal Ö, Barakat A. In vitro and ex vivo assessments of surfactant-free topical curcumin emulgel. J. Res. Pharm. 2025;27(2):544-556. https://izlik.org/JA72GP83PK
Chicago
Ergin, Ahmet Doğan, Özge İnal, and Abdülkerim Barakat. 2025. “In Vitro and Ex Vivo Assessments of Surfactant-Free Topical Curcumin Emulgel”. Journal of Research in Pharmacy 27 (2): 544-56. https://izlik.org/JA72GP83PK.
EndNote
Ergin AD, İnal Ö, Barakat A (June 1, 2025) In vitro and ex vivo assessments of surfactant-free topical curcumin emulgel. Journal of Research in Pharmacy 27 2 544–556.
IEEE
[1]A. D. Ergin, Ö. İnal, and A. Barakat, “In vitro and ex vivo assessments of surfactant-free topical curcumin emulgel”, J. Res. Pharm., vol. 27, no. 2, pp. 544–556, June 2025, [Online]. Available: https://izlik.org/JA72GP83PK
ISNAD
Ergin, Ahmet Doğan - İnal, Özge - Barakat, Abdülkerim. “In Vitro and Ex Vivo Assessments of Surfactant-Free Topical Curcumin Emulgel”. Journal of Research in Pharmacy 27/2 (June 1, 2025): 544-556. https://izlik.org/JA72GP83PK.
JAMA
1.Ergin AD, İnal Ö, Barakat A. In vitro and ex vivo assessments of surfactant-free topical curcumin emulgel. J. Res. Pharm. 2025;27:544–556.
MLA
Ergin, Ahmet Doğan, et al. “In Vitro and Ex Vivo Assessments of Surfactant-Free Topical Curcumin Emulgel”. Journal of Research in Pharmacy, vol. 27, no. 2, June 2025, pp. 544-56, https://izlik.org/JA72GP83PK.
Vancouver
1.Ahmet Doğan Ergin, Özge İnal, Abdülkerim Barakat. In vitro and ex vivo assessments of surfactant-free topical curcumin emulgel. J. Res. Pharm. [Internet]. 2025 Jun. 1;27(2):544-56. Available from: https://izlik.org/JA72GP83PK