Evaluation of Dika Fat as a Suppository Base II: Thermal and Release Characteristics of Blended Dika Fat Suppositories

Abstract

Thermal parameters such as capillary melting temperature (CMT), softening temperature (ST) and liquefaction temperature (LT), as well as drug release parameters were used as bases for evaluating the suitability of dika fat as a suppository base. Mean values of the thermal parameters for pure dika fat were generally higher than the values normally required for an ideal suppository base. Blending the fat with a vegetable oil was found to be suitable in adjusting the thermal properties to acceptable values. Two vegetable oils -Avop oil and palm kernel oil-were used and were found to produce statistically non-significant effects on the physical properties of the suppositories. The release of diazepam from the suppositories presented varying mechanisms, but the rate of release was attributed to the oil-water partition coefficient of the drug.