The gelling properties of Dillenia indica mucilage in benzyl benzoate emulgel formulations

Abstract The objective of the study was to evaluate the gelling properties of Dillenia indica mucilage in benzyl benzoate emulgel formulation. Mucilage was extracted from the fruits of Dillenia indica using established methods and characterized by rheology and swelling. Emulsion (F1) was prepared using the continental emulsification method. Gelling agents (2 %w /v) were prepared by dispersing in distilled water with constant stirring at a moderate speed using a magnetic stirrer. F1 was added to the gel (0-75 %w /w) to obtain emulgel formulations and evaluated using viscosity, globule size, pH, release profiles and kinetic modeling. Data were expressed as mean ± SD, and similarity factor (f2) was used to compare all formulations. Formulation viscosity was significantly higher with carbopol than with Dillenia; globule sizes increased with concentration of gelling agents, and pH reduced as the concentration of Dillenia increased. All formulations showed controlled release properties with t80 ranging between 114 and 660 min. The release was governed by Korsmeyer-Peppas model. Formulation F5 prepared with 50 % Dillenia showed highest similarity to F4 prepared with 75 %w /w carbopol. Dillenia indica demonstrated acceptable gelling properties comparable with that of carbopol and could be improved for use in emulgel formulations.

Medios de cultivo líquidos: un avance para la micropropagación comercial de zábila (Aloe barbadensis Mill.) / Liquid medium culture: an approach for the commercial micropropagation of aloe (Aloe barbadensis Mill.)

La micropropagación es una alternativa para la producción comercial de plantas de zábila (Aloe barbadensis Mill.) limitada por los altos costos de producción. Con el objetivo de prescindir de los agentes gelificantes, reduciendo costos, se comparó el medio de cultivo líquido con el medio de cultivo gelificado en las diferentes etapas de micropropagación de la zábila. En la etapa de establecimiento se observó mayor porcentaje de explantes contaminados en el medio de cultivo líquido estático (25.55 %) que en el medio gelificado (11.11 %); y aunque el resto de los explantes se establecieron independientemente de la condición del medio de cultivo, en el medio líquido alcanzaron mayor altura (3.81 cm) que en el medio gelificado (3.03 cm). En la etapa de multiplicación, la altura de los explantes (entre 4.43 y 6.01 cm) fue superior en los recipientes de inmersión temporal automatizado (RITA®) en comparación con el medio gelificado (entre 3.24 y 3.42 cm); sin diferencias significativas entre el número de brotes/explante. Todos los brotes enraizaron a los 30 días independientemente del medio de cultivo empleado (líquido estático y gelificado), sin observar variaciones en la altura del brote y, número y longitud de las raíces. El empleo de los medios de cultivo líquidos y la implementación de los sistemas de inmersión temporal tipo RITA® permiten reducir los costos de producción al prescindir de los agentes gelificantes, lo que representa un avance para la micropropagación comercial de zábila.

Micropropagation is considered a successful alternative for aloe (Aloe barbadensis Mill.) plant production. However, it has limited use due to the high production cost. Liquid media were compared to agar-gelled medium during all micropropagation stages of aloe to reduce the cost for gelling agent used. In the establishment stage, there was a higher percentage of contaminated explants in static liquid medium (25.55%) than those cultured in agar-gelled medium (11.11%), although all the explants were established independently of the culture medium used, higher height (3.81 cm) was observed in liquid medium than those growing in agar-gelled medium (3.03 cm). In the multiplication stage, explant height was higher in the recipients used for automated temporary immersion system (RITA®) (4.43 - 6.01 cm) than those cultured in agar-gelled medium (3.24 - 3.42 cm), there was no significant difference for number of shoots/explant. All shoots had roots at 30 days independently of used culture media (static liquid or agar-gelled media). Shoot height, number and root length had similar values in both culture media. The implementation of liquid media and automated temporary Immersion system RITA® may allow to reduce production costs of gelling agent used, it represents an approach for the commercial micropropagation of aloe.