Formulation and Evaluation of Diosgenin Solid Dispersion Gel for Wound Healing

Abstract

Background

Diosgenin (DG) is a steroidal sapogenin derived from medicinal plants such as Dioscorea nipponica, Smilax china, and Trigonella foenum-graecum. DG exhibits low solubility in water. DG is known for its diverse therapeutic properties, including antioxidants, anti-inflammatory, anticancer, and wound healing activities.

Objectives

This research aimed to improve the solubility and dissolution rate of DG using the solid dispersion technique and subsequently incorporate the optimized solid dispersion into a topical gel formulation for wound healing applications.

Methods

Solid dispersion is a simple and cost-effective technique commonly employed to enhance the solubility of drugs with limited water solubility. In this study, Kollidon12PF, a hydrophilic polymer with skin-repairing benefits, was chosen as the carrier. The prepared solid dispersion was evaluated for its physicochemical characteristics and crystallinity. Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) confirmed the transformation of DG into an amorphous form, while Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) showed no significant drug-polymer interaction. The optimized solid dispersion was incorporated into a carbopol 934 gel base. The prepared gel formulation was evaluated for pH, spreadability, and drug release behavior.

Results

In-vivo studies on wound healing revealed that the DG incorporated solid dispersion gel markedly enhanced wound closure and tissue regeneration. These findings demonstrate that solid dispersion effectively improves the solubility and bioavailability of DG, thereby enhancing its therapeutic efficacy in topical wound healing formulations. The optimized formulation showed a significant increase in solubility from 0.0066 to 0.9845 mg/mL in water and drug release of 87.2% compared to pure diosgenin (33.7%). The prepared solid dispersion was further incorporated into a topical gel and evaluated for pH (6.1 ± 0.2), viscosity (197.6 ± 2.9 mpa.s), spreadability (15.18 ± 1.6), and drug content (96.19 ± 1.18%).In vitro diffusion studies demonstrated enhanced permeation from the gel formulation (72.48%) compared to the plain drug gel (43.12%). The formulation exhibited significant wound healing activity in the excision wound model, with better wound contraction observed as compared to control group. Additionally, a reduction in inflammatory markers and improved tissue regeneration were observed.

Conclusion

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Salunke, M., Wabale, D., Aher, S. et al. Formulation and Evaluation of Diosgenin Solid Dispersion Gel for Wound Healing. J Pharm Innov 21, 549 (2026). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12247-026-10769-7