MORPHOLOGY STUDY OF PLAI PATCH BY THE SCANNING ELECTRON MICROSCOPE. PART I: CHITOSAN AND HYDROXYPROPYLMETHYLCELLULOSE BLENDS

Objective: The compound D or ( E )-4-(3', 4'-dimethoxyphenyl)-but-3-en-1-ol is the main active chemical constituent in Zingiber cassumunar Roxb. (Plai) used for the treatment of asthma, for muscle and joint pain. This research aimed to study the surface morphology of Plai patch after in vitro release study of compound D. This patch made from polymer blends consisted of chitosan and hydroxypropylmethyl cellulose using glycerine as plasticizer. Methods: The crude Plai oil was dissolved in absolute ethanol and homogeneously mixed into the polymer blends solution consisted of chitosan, hydroxypropylmethyl cellulose, and glycerine, and then dried in hot air oven to produce the Plai patch. The Plai patch was placed into Franz cell diffusion apparatus for 24 hours. After that, the Plai patch was photographed by scanning electron microscope (SEM) to study the morphology of this patch after compound D release. Results: The morphology of the Plai patch after the release of compound D was visualized by SEM. The morphology of Plai patch made from polymer blends between chitosan, hydroxypropylmethyl cellulose, and glycerine had various numbers of pores, suggesting that the release of compound D occur mainly in patch surfaces and its might diffused through the matrix pores due to the active compound solubilization in the receptor medium, isotonic phosphate buffer pH 7.4: ethanol = 8:2. Conclusion: When the Plai patch absorbed the moisture and fluid from receptor medium, the Plai patch might swell and release the compound D, main active compound in Plai from this patch. This might contributed the pore in Plai patch. Keyword: Morphology study, Plai, Patches, HPMC.