Abstract
Topical drug delivery is a remarkable but arduous task due to the inherent barrier system of the skin. More so, only a narrow range of drugs are available for topical use because most drugs are hydrophobic in nature and this restricts their permeation and absorption into the skin. Herbal remedies have been used in the treatment of various diseases including skin diseases for centuries and are gradually becoming acceptable as treatment options however, they are mostly hydrophobic. Growing interests in combating these issues have led formulating scientists to develop drug delivery systems like emulgels which are good carriers of hydrophobic drug molecules. Emulgels are a mixture of an emulsion and a gel, where drugs are incorporated into globules and solubilized, enhancing drug absorption from the skin. They are easily spread over the skin, easily removed from the skin, possess emollient properties, are non-greasy, cosmetically appealing and have good penetrating abilities. This review highlights the importance of emulgels in the delivery of herbal extracts/constituents, the methods of formulations and an overview of herbal emulgel formulations that have been exploited by different researchers. Emulgels have proven to be good prospects in enhancing the topical delivery of herbals and improving the treatment of skin infections.
Keywords
Topical; drug delivery; herbal; emulgels
How to Cite
Olayemi, O. J. & David, C., (2023) “Emulgel: A Promising Technology for Topical Delivery of Herbal Extracts”, British Journal of Pharmacy 8(1). doi: https://doi.org/10.5920/bjpharm.1046
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