Formulation of Clindamycin Hydrochloride and its Anti acne Activity

Topical clindamycin is widely used and is highly effective in the treatment of acne. Since 1981 clindamycin phosphate has been commercially available in a solution formulation. However topical clindamycin preparations are still occasionally compounded from clindamycin hydrochloride capsules by pharmacists at the time of dispensing. In this study we aimed to prepare a gel formulation of clindamycin hydrochloride and also to evaluate its biological activity for treatment of acne. Eight different formulation of 1% gel clindamycin hydrochloride in hydroxy ethyl cellulose were prepared. In some of the formulations allantoin was also added. Stability studies were done by cylinder plate method using Micrococcus luteus PTCC1110 as microorganism. Clinical studies also were done by a double blind study on 3 groups of patients. Two formulations (one with allantoin and the second without it) were tested for the biological activity and compared with 2% gel erythromycin. Patients who applied the clindamycin formulation with allantoin showed more decrease in the number of papules, pustules, open and closed comodone in comparison to patients who applied the clindamycin formulation without allantoin. Both these two formulations were more effective than the erythromycin formulation. All of the formulations kept 97% of their potency after 8 mounts and a shelf life of 2 years for the products were determined. The results showed desirable anti acne activity for 1% gel clindamycin hydrochloride in comparison to erythromycin. Gel formulation of clindamycin hydrochloride is a suitable preparation for acne and economically preferred to clindamycin phosphate.