Rheumatoid arthritis

Curcumin, an orange-yellow colored component of turmeric is a diarylheptanoid. It is the principal curcuminoid obtained from the rhizomes of the Curcuma longa plant (Zingiberaceae). It is a polyphenol product obtained from turmeric. It is been used in some medicinal preparation and even as a food-coloring agent. By the in vivo and in vitro studies it is confirmed that curcumin has antiviral, anti-arthritic anticancer, anti-amyloid, anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. The present article highlights the role of curcumin in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis (RA). It emphasizes on the oral, transdermal and parenteral routes of drug delivery systems and the emerging trends related to these delivery systems such as solid dispersions, cyclodextrin inclusion compounds, solid lipid nanoparticles, liposomes, micro nano emulsions, transdermal patches, topical gel and proniosomes etc.

Rheumatoid arthritis is a common inflammatory disease characterized by progressive bone and cartilage destruction, A full cure for rheumatoid arthritis  is yet to be discovered but  Microemulsion containing NSAID can be used as best option for the management of pain in Rheumatoid arthritis because of their potential to incorporate a wide range of drug molecules (hydrophilic and hydrophobic) due to the presence of both lipophilic and hydrophilic domains.  Association of drugs with Microemulsion is normally noncovalent, based on collective strength of weak binding forces which are broken to release drug. The small droplets of Microemolsion provide better adherence to membranes and transport NSAID molecules in a controlled fashion for the pain management of Rheumatoid Arthritis. These adaptable delivery systems provide protection against oxidation, enzymatic hydrolysis and improve the solubilization of lipophilic drugs and hence enhance their bioavailability.

The aim of present investigation was to develop press coated tablet for pulsatile drug delivery of lornoxicam using hydrophilic and hydrophobic polymers. The drug delivery system was designed to deliver the drug at such a time when it could be most needful to patient of rheumatoid arthritis. The press coated tablets containing lornoxicam in the inner core was formulated with an outer shell by different weight ratio of hydrophobic polymer (ethyl cellulose) and hydrophilic polymers (sodium alginate). The release profile of press coated tablet exhibited a lag time followed by burst release, in which outer shell ruptured into two halves. The effect of formulation composition on the barrier layer comprising both hydrophobic and hydrophilic excipients on the lag time of drug release was investigated. It was observed that lag time decreases with increasing concentration of sodium alginate. The optimized formulation (F5) comprised 10: 90%w/w concentration ratio of sodium alginate: Ethocel 10 cps with a 245 mg coating weight, and showed a desired lag time of 308 minutes, which mimics the fluctuating symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis, followed by rapid release of lornoxicam.