Preparation and quality evaluation of tea tree oil microemulsion gel / 中草药

ABSTRACT

Objective: To study the prescription and preparation technology of tea tree oil (TTO) microemulsion gel. The quality and the stability were evaluated. Methods: The prescription and preparation technology were selected and optimized through the compatibility test and the pseudo-ternary phase diagram. TTO microemulsion gel was prepared by adding gelatin. The appearance, pH value, viscosity, moisture rate, and the drug concentration were evaluated. Results: The prescription composition of TTO microemulsion gel was TTO (0.6%), Cremophor RH-40 (1.2%), PEG 400 (0.2%), carbopol-980 (0.2%), glycerol (2%), with distilled water adding to 50 g. The optimum formulation exhibited clear and transparent, uniform exquisite, moderate viscosity, and well spreadable, with the particle diameter of (38.38 ± 2.30) nm, zeta potential of (-56.00 ± 5.82) mV, pH value of 5.52 ± 0.01, viscosity of (48 834 ± 5) Pa·s, moisture rate of (96.74 ± 0.52)%, and the drug-loaded of (5.79 ± 0.03) mg/g. The result of heat and cold resistance test showed that the preparation was needed to be stored at low-temperature. Conclusion: The preparation of TTO microemulsion gel is simple, corresponding to the main index of gelata for topical drug delivery preparation and offering the basis for further research and development.