FORMULATION OPTIMIZATION AND ANTIFUNGAL EVALUATION OF ALLICIN LOADED MICROSPONGE GEL SYSTEM
Main Article Content
Keywords
Allicin, Fluconazole, Microsponge, Antifungal activity, Candida albicans, Topical gel
Abstract
Background: Superficial fungal infections caused by Candida albicans require prolonged topical therapy; however, conventional formulations often suffer from poor drug retention and limited efficacy.
Objective: The present study aimed to develop and evaluate an allicin-loaded microsponge gel system for enhanced topical antifungal activity.
Methods: Microsponges were prepared using a quasi-emulsion solvent diffusion method and incorporated into a topical gel. The optimized formulation was characterized for particle size, entrapment efficiency, morphology, drug–excipient compatibility, and in-vitro drug release. Antifungal activity was evaluated against Candida albicans using the agar well diffusion method.
Results: The optimized microsponge formulation exhibited uniform spherical morphology, satisfactory entrapment efficiency, and sustained drug release behavior. FTIR analysis confirmed the absence of chemical interaction between drug and excipients. The microsponge gel demonstrated significantly higher zones of inhibition compared to the conventional formulation, indicating enhanced antifungal efficacy.
Conclusion: The developed allicin-loaded microsponge gel system showed sustained drug release and improved antifungal activity, suggesting its potential as an effective topical delivery system for fungal infections.
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This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License.
All articles published in JPTCP are licensed under Copyright Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License.
Navdeep Jaiswal
Department of Pharmaceutics, Associate Professor, Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, SAGE University, Indore
Ruchi Khare Shrivastava
Professor, Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, SAGE University, Indore MP-452020
