TRANSDERMAL DELIVERY OF BROMHEXINE HYDROCHLORIDE FROM VARIOUS FORMULATIONS THROUGH EXCISED HAIRLESS MOUSE SKIN

Bromhexine hydrochloride is a mucolytic agent. The drug helps in chron ic bronchitis and chronic asthma. Due to its lipophilic nature and ext ensive metabolism, it disappears quickly from the blood. The drug is k nown to have some gastro-intestinal irritating effects. To overcome th ese problems, the transdermal delivery of bromhexine hydrochloride mig ht be a solution. In vitro skin permeation experiments across hairless mouse skin revealed that water-soluble polyethylene glycol ointment e xhibited the highest skin permeation potential which agreed with the i n vitro release through a standard membrane. Bromhexine hydrochloride release through a standard artificial membrane from water-soluble Gant rez AN119 film preparation was higher than that from insoluble ethylce llulose film preparation, but with experiments with the mouse skin, et hylcellulose films showed higher permeation potentials. Natural permea tion enhancers in ointments showed promising permeation enhancing effe cts.