Penetration of verapamil hydrochloride in the presence of sodium glycocholate as penetration enhancer through mucous membrane

A model buccal drug formulation (BDF) with verapamil hydrochloride (VH) is in the form of a thin elastic disk made of two layers. The aim of this pape r was to determine the influence of sodium glycocholate (SC) as a penetrati on enhancer in a BDF on the in vitro penetration rate of VH through pig oes ophageal mucosa. It was found that VH penetrates mucosa. In 6 h 10.35 mg/cm (2) of drug diffused from saturated solution in a buffer of pH 5.3 white fr om diffused only 7.78 mg/cm(2) and 4.68 mg/cm(2) of VH, respectively satura ted buffers of pH 6.8 and 7.3. In 6 h approximately 1.3 mg/cm(2) of VH pene trate the mucosa from the control BDF model which does not contain the pene tration enhancer. Conversely the content of SG in the model BDF contributes to the increase in drug penetration rate.