Development and stability of semi-solid formulations containing soy (Glycine max (l.) Merr.) extracts

• Grant number: 08/04457-7
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: November 01, 2008
• End date: October 31, 2009
• Field of knowledge: Health Sciences - Pharmacy - Pharmaceutical Technology
• Principal Investigator: Raul Cesar Evangelista
• Grantee: Caroline Magnani Spagnol
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Ciências Farmacêuticas (FCFAR). Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP). Campus de Araraquara. Araraquara , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Some plants, like soy (Glycine max L. Merr), are of interest for the pharmaceutical industry, because are source of, among other substances, isoflavones, which present important estrogenic properties as well as act as antioxidant, antifungal and antineoplastic agents. Despite the advantages of cutaneous and transdermal routes over others, the main challenge for topical formulations is providing enough increasing in drug penetration and release into the skin, without inducing significant alterations on the cutaneous tissue. Menopause, caused by hormonal defficiency, is accompanied by some metabolic problems, such as loss of bone mass, vasomotor phenomena, dislipidemy, insulin resistance, gain of weight, depression and acceleration of cutaneous ageing. The hormonal reposition therapy (HRT) is efficient, but it can bring side effects, like breast cancer. In such cases, fitotherapy with fito-hormones through cutaneous route is an important alternative. Among semi-solid preparations, emulsified systems and gels are widely used in topical formulations, since they favoured drug solubility and stability as well as modify the drug release profile. In order to evaluate both the stability and adequability of a topical firmulation, rheological data are essential. Thus, the objective of the present work is to develop and to study the stability of semi-solid pharmaceutical preparations containing soy extracts, aimed to topical administration and consequent vehiculation of fito-hormones (isoflavones). (AU)