Deoxycholate hydrogels of betamethasone-17-valerate intended for topical use: In vitro and in vivo evaluation.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the suitability of sodium-deoxycholate (Na-DOC) gels containing betamethasone-17-valerate (BMV) for topical application. The gels were characterized for rheological and textural properties. The in vitro flux of BMV from Na-DOC gels across rat skin was 2.5 (0.05% gel) and 8.5 times (0.1% gel) higher compared to the commercial cream (0.1%), respectively. The pharmacodynamic responses after in vivo topical application in rats were also determined. A significant correlation between anti-inflammatory activity and in vitro permeation of BMV was observed. Na-DOC gels produced significantly higher edema inhibition compared to commercial cream at all time intervals. Finally, according to the results of histology studies, Na-DOC gel has no irritant effect on the skin. In conclusion, Na-DOC gel formulation could be suggested as a promising alternative system for the topical application of BMV.