Medicament Release from Ointment Bases: I. Indomethacin. In Vitro and in Vivo Release Studies

Abstract

The in vitro release of indomethacin from 1%, 3%, and 5% indomethacin ointments and its in vivo absorption through the skin of rabbits was investigated. The in vitro release of indomethacin followed zero-order kinetics and was better from an absorption base ointment. No significant differences (F=3.047 and P=0.079 for the absorption base) and (F=2.15 and P=0.14 for the hydrophilic base) in the release rate of indomethacin in 1%, 3%, and 5% indomethacin ointments were observed. Indomethacin was most effectively absorbed from absorption ointment bases. A correlation between the in vitro release and the in vivo absorption was found; also, a correlation between the in vivo release pattern of the bases used and the in vivo data reported in the literature was observed.