Formulation and Evaluation of Sustained Release Matrix Tablets of Boswellia and Liquorice

Various conventional dosage forms are available in the market of the plants boswellia and liquorice. The drawbacks associated with their conventional dosage forms which are fluctuation in drug blood level, patient’s inconvenience, poor patient compliance, increased chances of missing the dose of a drug high dose potency etc. can be solved by formulating sustained release formulations of  these herbal drugs. Different formulations of boswellia and liquorice sustained release tablets were formulated using wet granulation method. The tablets were subjected to physicochemical studies, in vitro drug release studies, kinetic modeling and stability studies to find out the best formulation. Drug content was carried out by HPLC fitted with a C18 column using UV detector. The in vitro release studies were conducted for 24h using USP type 2 apparatus. The dissolution profile comparison of the prepared batches was done. The dissolution data profile was fitted into zero order, first order, Higuchi and Korsemeyer-Peppas models to identify the pharmacokinetics and mechanism of drug release. In vivo anti-inflammatory effects of the optimized formulations were evaluated by carrageenan-induced hind paw edema method. The results of the accelerated stability study for six months revealed that storage conditions were not found to have made any significant changes. The release of formulation F-4 of boswellic acid and F-6 of liquorice was prolonged for 24h and once daily matrix tablet was formulated.