Formulation, Development and Evaluation of Antifungal Shampoo of Itraconazole with Natural Extract

Abstract

The present study aimed to formulate and evaluate an antifungal shampoo containing itraconazole in combination with natural extracts such as neem, aloe vera, reetha, and shikakai for effective treatment of scalp fungal infections. A total of nine formulations (F1–F9) were developed using aqueous gel-based emulsion technique by varying concentrations of herbal components. Preformulation studies including DSC and FTIR confirmed the purity and compatibility of itraconazole with excipients. The prepared shampoos were evaluated for physicochemical parameters such as pH, viscosity, spreadability, foamability, stability, and drug content. The pH of all formulations ranged from 5.4 to 6.1, suitable for scalp application. Viscosity varied depending on xanthan gum concentration, with F3, F6, and F9 showing higher viscosity. Spreadability and foaming studies indicated good cleansing and application properties. Among all formulations, F6 exhibited optimal performance with balanced viscosity, stable foam, and good spreadability. In vitro drug release studies revealed sustained release of itraconazole up to 79% over 8 hours. Drug release kinetics followed first-order model (R² = 0.998), indicating concentration-dependent release. The formulation also showed significant antifungal activity against fungal strains. Thus, the developed antifungal shampoo represents a promising topical delivery system combining synthetic and herbal agents.

Keywords: Itraconazole, Antifungal shampoo, Herbal extract, Neem, Aloe vera, Drug release kinetics.