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Review Article | DOI: https://doi.org/10.31579/2690-8808/245
Department of Pharmaceutics, RBVRR Women’s college of Pharmacy, Hyderabad.
*Corresponding Author: A. Krishna Sailaja, Department of Pharmaceutics, RBVRR Women’s college of Pharmacy, Hyderabad.
Citation: A. Krishna Sailaja, Bayya Hrushitha, Bandra Ausha, Chinthakunta Deepika Reddy, Kommireddy Tejaswini, (2025), Study of Natural Excipients in Semi-Solid Dosage Forms, J, Clinical Case Reports and Studies, 6(2); DOI:10.31579/2690-8808/245
Copyright: ©, 2025, A. Krishna Sailaja. This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
Received: 10 February 2025 | Accepted: 18 February 2025 | Published: 25 February 2025
Keywords: semi-solid dosage forms; excipients; natural excipients
A significant proportion of pharmaceutical dosage forms are semi solid preparations. They serve as carriers for drugs that are topically delivered by way of the skin, cornea, rectal tissue, nasal mucosa, vagina, buccal tissue, urethral membrane, and external ear lining. This data collection's goal is to give readers a comprehensive understanding of the different tools, tactics, crucial process variables, and production and validation procedures processes specific to semisolid dosage forms.
Typically, topical semisolid dose forms are in the shape of pastes, ointments, gels, or creams. The ease of use, quick formulation, and capacity to topically administer a broad range of drug molecules are all benefits of a semisolid dosage form. There are many different dose forms for semisolids, and each has special qualities. In addition to any appropriate excipients, such as emulsifiers, viscosity-increasing agents, antimicrobial agents, antioxidants, or stabilizing agents, they comprise one or more active substances that have been dissolved or evenly distributed in an appropriate base.
Figure 1: Semi solid dosage forms
Advantages for semi solid dosage forms:
| Formulation | Description |
| Ointments | Ointments are homogenous, semi-solid preparations intended for external application to the skin or mucous membrane. |
| Creams | Creams are homogeneous, semi-solid preparations consisting of opaque emulsion systems. |
| Gels | Gels are usually homogeneous, clear, semi-solid preparations consisting of a liquid phase within a three-dimensional polymeric matrix with physical or sometimes chemical cross-linkage by means of suitable gelling agents. |
| Pastes | Pastes are homogeneous, semi-solid preparations containing high concentrations of insoluble powdered substances (usually not less than 20%) dispersed in a suitable base |
| Poultice | A poultice is an ancient form of topical medication also known as a cataplasm. It is a soft mass of vegetable constituents or clay, usually heated before application.[2] |
Table 1: Types of semi-solid dosage forms
Ointment: Ointments are homogenous, semi-solid preparations intended for external application to the skin or mucous membrane. They are used as emollients or for the application of active ingredients to the skin for protective, therapeutic, or prophylactic purpose and where a degree of occlusion is desired.
Advantage of ointments as a dosage forms:
| Emulsifying agent | Cotton seed oil, Paraffin wax, Beeswax, Palm oil |
| Humectants | Propanediol, vegetable glycerine, honey, marine collagen |
| Preservatives | Clove oil, Neem oil, Cumin seeds, Cayenne pepper |
| Antioxidants | Peppermint, Rosemary, Cinnamon, Saffron |
| Oleaginous bases | Castor oil, Lanolin, Mineral oil, Sunflower oil [3] |
Table 2: Excipients used in ointments
OINTMENT BASES: The vehicle or carrier of an ointment is known as ointment base. The choice of ointment base depends upon the nature of medicament, stability of ointment and clinical indication of the ointment. [4]
| Property | Oleaginous compounds | Oleaginous bases + w/o surfactant | Oleaginous base + water | Polyethylene glycol |
| Water content | Anhydrous | Anhydrous | hydrous | Anhydrous hydrous |
| Affinity for water | Hydrophobic | Hydrophilic | Hydrophilic | Hydrophilic |
| Spread ability | Difficult | Difficult | Easy | Moderate- easy |
| Washability | Non washable | Non washable | washable | washable |
| Stability | Oils poor, hydrocarbon better | Oils poor, hydrocarbon better | Unstable especially alkali soap and natural colloids | Stable |
Table 3: Properties of different ointment bases
Ideal properties of Ointment bases
| Excipient | BS | Family | Synonym | Use | Formulation |
| Castor oil | It is obtained from seeds of Ricinus communis | Euphorbiaceae | Ricinoleic acid | Ointment base | Topical ointments |
| Sunflower oil | It is obtained from fruits and seeds of Helianthus annus | Compositae | Helianthus annus oil Oleum helianthin | Ointment base | Skin creams Lotions |
| Mineral oil | It is a mixture of refined liquid saturated aliphatic and cyclic hydrocarbons obtained from petroleum | _ | Heavy mineral oil, Liquid petroleum | Ointment base | Opthalmic formulations, Transdermal contraceptive patches, Suppositories |
| Lanolin | It is obtained from wool of sheep, Ovis Aries linn | Bovidae | Refined wool fat | Ointment base | Creams, Ointments, Suppositories [ 6] |
Table 5: Details of various natural oils as excipients in semi-solid dosage forms
EMULSIFYING AGENT: Emulsions are liquid disperse systems consisting of two immiscible phases, one of which is dispersed as globules in the other liquid phase [7]. The two phases of emulsions are stabilized by the presence of an emulsifier. The droplet diameter of the dispersed phase extends from about 0.1 to 10 μM, although particle diameters as small as 0.01 μM and as large as 100 μM are not uncommon. The consistency of emulsions ranges from that of a liquid (e.g., fat emulsions) to a semisolid (e.g., ointments and creams]
Ideal properties of natural emulsifying agents:
| Excipient | BS | Family | Synonym | Use | Formulation |
| Soybean oil | It is extracted from seeds of soybean plant(Glycine max) | Fabaceae | Soy oil | Emulsifying agent | Creams |
| Paraffin wax | Paraffin wax is manufactured by distillation of crude petroleum or shale oil. | Paraffin durum | Emulsifying agent | ointments | |
| Beeswax | Bees wax is obtained from the honey comb of the bee | Apidae. | Cagesoft, Dynasanp60 |
Emulsifying agent | Ointments |
| Palm oil | the oil obtained from the pulp of the fruit of the oil palm Elaeis guineensis jacq | Aceraceae. | Cage soft Dynasanp60 | Emulsifying agent | Creams Ointments [8] |
Table 6: Details of various natural emulsifying agents as excipients in semi-solid dosage forms
HUMECTANT: these are an important group of cosmetic ingredients and will be found in most skin care products that contain an aqueous phase. Humectants moisturise the skin in a unique way. They attract water to the skin.[9]
Ideal properties of natural humectants:
| Excipient | BS | Family | Synonym | Use | Formulation |
| Marine collagen | Derived from fish collagen peptides | - | Fish collagen | Humectant | Creams, serums |
| Honey | Produced by our little bee friends | Apidae. | Madhu | Humectant | Ointments, Creams, Syrups |
| Vegetable glycerine | Derived from plant sources, glycerine is a thick sweet, sticky liquid | - | Glycerol | Humectant | Ointments |
| Propanediol | Derived from cane sugar | - | - | Humectant | Lotions, Cleansers [10] |
Table 7: Details of various natural humactants as excipients in semi-solid dosage forms
PRESERVATIVES: Preservatives are usually used to minimize the shelf life of several food products and pharmaceuticals. Preservatives are vital to avoid the alteration and degradation of microorganisms during storage. Particularly in those with greater water content [11]
Ideal properties of natural Preservatives:
| Excipient | BS | Family | Synonym | Use | Formulation |
| Lemon oil | Extracted from the peel of citrus limon fruit | Rutaceae | Citrus limon peel oil | Preservative | Shampoos Pastes |
| Neem oil | Fruits of azadirachta Indica | Meliaceae | Margosa oil | Preservative | Shampoos, Creams |
| Cumin seeds | Seeds of Cuminum cyminum | Apiaceae | Nigella | Preservative | Suppositories |
| Cayenne pepper | Fruits of piper nigrum | piperaceae | Chilli pepper | Preservative | Topical ointments Creams [12] |
Table 8: Details of various natural preservatives as excipients in semi-solid dosage forms
ANTIOXIDANTS: Antioxidants are substances which counteract free radicals and prevent the damage caused by them. These can greatly reduce the adverse damage due to oxidants by crumbling them before they react with biologic targets, preventing chain reactions or preventing the activation of oxygen to highly reactive products
| Excipient | BS | Family | Synonym | Use | Formulation |
| Catechin | It is a flavonoid antioxidant found in many plants, fruits, and vegetables | - | Flavanol | Antioxidant | Creams |
| Wheat bran | Its comes from the outer layers of the wheat kerneal | Gramineae | Cereal fiber Dietary fiber | Antioxidant | Nano emulsions [14] |
| Saffron | Saffron consists of the dried stigma of the flowers of the crocus bulb, crocus sativus | Kesar, Jafran | anti-oxidant. | Creams lotions |
Table 9: Details of various natural humactants as excipients in semi-solid dosage forms
Creams:
Creams consist of opaque emulsion systems and are semi-solid, homogenous formulations. The kind of emulsion—water-in-oil (w/o) or oil-in-water (o/w)—as well as the makeup of the solids in the internal phase determine their consistency and rheological characteristics. Creams are designed to be applied to the skin or specific mucous membranes for preventive, therapeutic, or protective reasons, particularly in situations where an occlusive effect is not required. Topical medicines that can be applied to the skin are called creams. "Viscose liquid or semi-solid emulsions of either the oil-in-water or water-in-oil type" dosage forms, with varying oil and water contents, are referred to as creams. [15]
Ideal Properties Of Creams
Types of skin creams:
They are separated into two categories: An oil-in-water (O/W) emulsion is one in which the oil is distributed as droplets throughout the aqueous phase, whereas oil-in-water (O/W) creams are made up of tiny oil droplets distributed in a continuous phase. Creams known as water-in-oil (W/O) are made up of tiny water droplets scattered across an oily layer. The emulsion is of the water-in-oil (W/O) type when the dispersed phase is water and the dispersion medium is oil.
Cream types based on its purpose, unique qualities, and emulsion type:
| Thickening agent | Agar, Guar Gum, Xanthan Gum, Carrageenan |
| Emulsifying agent | Cotton seed oil, Paraffin wax, Beeswax, Palm oil |
| Preservatives | Clove oil, Neem oil, Tea tree oil, Ginger oil |
| Antioxidants | Peppermint, Rosemary, Cinnamon, Saffron |
Table 10: Excipints Used In Creams:
Thickening agent:
A thickening agent, sometimes known as a thickener, is a material that can raise a liquid's viscosity without significantly altering its other characteristics. In addition to being used in paints, pigments, explosives, and cosmetics, edible thickeners are frequently used to thicken sauces, soups, and puddings without changing their flavour. Additionally, thickeners can
enhance the suspension of other ingredients or emulsions, increasing the product's stability.
Ideal properties of natural thickening agents:
It should have proper texture
Maintain consistence Temperature [17]
| Excipient | BS | Family | Synonym | Use | Formulation |
| Agar | Agar is mainly extracted from species of Gelidium amansii | Gelidaceae | Agar-agar, agar gum, gelidium-amansii | Thickening agent | Suppositories |
| Guar gum | Guar gum is obtained from the endosperm of the seeds of the guar plant | Leguminosae | Cyamopsis tetragonoloba gum, galactose gum, guaran | Thickening agent | Gels Opthalmic preparations |
| Xanthan gum | Xanthan gum is obtained from the bacteria Xanthomonas campestris | Pseudomonadaceae | corn sugar gum. | Thickening agent
| oral gels Topical preparations |
Carrageenan
| Carrageenan as the hydrocolloid obtained by extraction with water or aqueous alkali | Rhodophyceae | Capsules | Thickening agent | Topical products |
Table 11: Details of various natural thickening agent as excipients in semi-solid dosage forms
Marketed formulations
| Formulation | Company[Brand] | Dosage form | Excipient used |
Kumkumadi glowing cream | Khadi natural | Semi solid dosage form | Saffron |
Vegan lipsticks | Blush-Bee | Semi solid dosage form | Cochineal |
Lanolin wax | Lodha petro | Semi solid dosage form | Lanolin |
Herbal lotions | Baidyanath | Semi solid dosage form | Mineral oil |
Mustela Hydrating cream | Expanscience laboratories | Semi solid dosage form | Sunflower oil |
Locust bean gun ceratop lotion | Labh additives | Semi solid dosage form | Ceratonia |
Pharmaceutical excipients derived from natural sources have attracted a great attention in developing convectional dosage forms and novel drug delivery systems. The use of natural excipients is steadily increasing day by day due to the side effects of synthetic excipients. Hence natural excipients are being preferred over synthetic as they are cheap, biodegradable and enhance the bioavailability, stability, safety, efficacy and patient compliance. Therefore, there is going to be a great interest in natural excipients to obtain a better dosage form.
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