Effect of Carrageenan as Gelling Agent on Tocopherol Acetate Emulgels

Abstract

Vitamin E (Tocopherol acetate) is used in both oral and topical dosage. The aim of the research was to study different concentration of Carrageenan a polymer that derived from seaweed particularly Eucheuma cottonii, as a gelling agent in Tocopherol acetate Emulgels.This experimental study was initiated by emulgel formulation using different concentration of carrageenan as gelling agent, as much as 0.5% (F1), 0.75% (F2), 0.85% (F3), 0.95 % (F4), 1% (F5), 1.125% (F6), 1.25% (F7), 1.5% (F8) and 2% (F9). For each formulation Tween 20 and Span 20 were used as emulsifiers (1 and 1.5 %), Liquid paraffin as oily phase (7.5%), Propylene glycol as humectant (10%), propyl and methyl paraben as antimicrobial preservative (0.01% and 0.03%). The physical investigation of emulgels observed were pH, spreading test, viscosity and freeze thaw test, that initiated with basis evaluation and then stability testing conducted for 90 days. The results showed that F5 formulation give the best physical parameters of emulgels in accordance with the requirement for topical dosage form.