Formulation and Evaluation of Antifungal Herbal Cream

Abstract

Fungal infections caused by Candida albicans are among the most common microbial infections affecting the skin and mucosal surfaces. The present study was undertaken to formulate and evaluate an antifungal herbal cream containing 5% w/w extract of Phyllanthus acidus and to assess its antifungal efficacy. The antifungal activity of the plant extract was evaluated through in vivo studies using albino mice infected with C. albicans. The treated group receiving 50 mg/kg plant extract exhibited a mean survival time of 19.84 ± 2.36 days compared to 15.52 ± 2.81 days in the infected untreated group, indicating significant antifungal activity. An oil-in-water cream formulation was prepared using stearic acid, cetyl alcohol, liquid paraffin, glycerin, triethanolamine, methylparaben, and the herbal extract. The prepared cream was evaluated for physical appearance, pH, viscosity, spreadability, and stability. The cream exhibited a smooth appearance, pleasant odor, pH of 6.8, viscosity of 221022 cps, and spreadability of 32.4 g·cm/sec. Stability studies conducted for one month under accelerated conditions showed no significant changes in the evaluated parameters. The results suggest that the formulated herbal cream possesses satisfactory physicochemical properties, good stability, and promising antifungal activity, making it a potential alternative to conventional antifungal formulations.

Keywords: Antifungal Herbal Cream, Phyllanthus acidus, Candida albicans, Topical Drug Delivery, Herbal Formulation