Formulation and Clinical Evaluation of Ethosomal and Liposomal Preparations of Anthralin in Psoriasis

Detailed Summary

Psoriasis is a common immune mediated inflammatory skin disease characterized by red heavily scaled plaques. Anthralin (1,8-dihydroxy-9-anthrone) which was introduced over 80 years ago has shown excellent efficacy in the management of psoriasis.Although anthralin is remarkably effective in the management of psoriasis, its side effects are equally disturbing. Its use is messy as it stains the skin, clothing, and any furniture that it may come in contact with. Further, anthralin has irritating, burning, brown discoloration and necrotizing effect on the normal and the diseased skin. This troublesome profile has discouraged wide-spread use of the drug. Ethosomes are attractive vesicular carriers mainly composed of phospholipids, ethanol and water. The intriguing features of ethosomes are due to their high ethanol content which facilitate their penetration through stratum corneum and target deep skin layers. This is advantageous over conventional liposomes which have limited penetration through the skin and remain confined in the upper layer of the stratum corneum. Compared to liposomes, ethosomes had greater retention of methotrexate into the skin for a longer period of time, suggesting better therapeutic outcome.

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