Sheabutter V: effect of particle size on release of medicament from ointment.

An ointment prepared from fat (sheabutter) obtainable from an indigenous (African) fruit released medicaments faster than either of the two ointment bases recommended by the British Pharmacopoeia. Reduction in particle size of crystalline medicaments incorporated in ointments increased surface area and transfer from the ointment to the substrate, possibly due to greater dissolution in the base, and, therefore, increased the availability of medicament at the ointment-substrate interface.