Abstract

Co-crystallization holds a great potential for solving the problem of low aqueous solubility and bioavailability of drug molecules and improve the other physical properties of active pharmaceutical ingredients. The objective of this investigation was to study the effect of co-crystallization on different physicochemical properties of curcumin. In this study curcumin formed co-crystals with hydroquinone and para-benzoic acid by using spray drying technique. Preliminary evaluation for screening of co-crystals has been done by melting point and IR spectroscopy. From the results of screening it was concluded that curcumin form co-crystal with hydroquinone and para-benzoic acid i.e. CUR: HQ and CUR: PBA co-crystals. CUR: HQ and CUR: PBA co-crystals were characterised in terms of melting point, FTIR spectroscopy, differential scanning calorimetry, solubility, drug content, X-ray diffraction study, flow properties and compared with plain curcumin. CUR: HQ and CUR: PBA co-crystals had shown increase in solubility in water over plain curcumin.