Formulation, Development & In vitro Assessment of Nimbidin & Tree Tea Oil Loaded Emulgel in the Treatment of Tinea corporis

Abstract

Background:

Tinea corporis is a common superficial fungal infection of the skin caused by dermatophytes such as Trichophyton, Microsporum, and Epidermophyton. It is characterized by annular, erythematous, scaly lesions associated with itching and inflammation. Nimbidin, a major bioactive tetranortriterpenoid found in seeds & leaves of Neem (Azadirachta indica) and, exhibits antifungal activity. Tree Tea Oil, is volatile oil isolated from the leaves of Melaleuca alternifolia, shows its potentials in the treatment of Tinea corporis with its potent antifungal, antibacterial, and anti-inflammatory properties. However, its volatility, poor aqueous solubility, and potential skin irritation limit its direct topical use.

Objective:

Emulgel, a novel topical drug delivery system combining the advantages of emulsions and gels, provides improved stability, enhanced skin penetration, controlled drug release, and better patient compliance for Hydrophobic drugs like essential oils. In present research work attempt was made of formulation, development and In vitro assessment of Nimbidin and Tree Tea Oil loaded Emulgel in the treatment of Tenia Corporis.

Methods:

Neem seeds (Azadirachta indica) were collected, dried, and coarsely powdered. The powdered material was subjected to Soxhlet extraction to obtain a Nimbidin-rich extract. The Emulgel formulation was developed by incorporating Nimbidin extract along with Tree Tea Oil (Melaleuca alternifolia) into an oil-in-water (O/W) emulsion system. The aqueous phase containing a suitable gelling agent such as Carbopol 934 was prepared separately and neutralized. The oil phase, consisting of Tree Tea Oil and appropriate emulsifiers, was then gradually combined with the aqueous phase under continuous stirring to form a stable emulsion, which was subsequently incorporated into the gel base to obtain the final Emulgel formulation.

The formulated Emulgel was underwent for its evaluation such as colour, consistency, homogeneity, appearance, greasiness, washability, pH, and spreadability. The In vitro antifungal activity was evaluated against Trichophyton rubrum using the agar Well diffusion method by determining the zone of inhibition. The drug release profile was investigated using a Franz diffusion cell equipped with a suitable membrane, with samples withdrawn at predefined time intervals for analysis.

Results:

Using the well diffusion method, the formulated Nimbidin and Tree Tea Oil loaded Emulgel (F2) shown strong antifungal efficacy against Trichophyton rubrum. The formulation effectively suppressed fungal growth, as evidenced by the significant zone of inhibition it produced. It was discovered that its activity was similar to that of the common antifungal drug Miconazole. Because of its dual delivery method, the Emulgel demonstrated increased stability and better drug release. Overall, the combination of Tree Tea Oil and Nimbidin showed good topical adaptability and synergistic antifungal activity.

Conclusion:

The Emulgel containing Tree Tea Oil & Nimbidin showed effective antifungal activity against Tinea corporis. Overall treatment efficacy was improved by the combination's synergistic effect. The Emulgel improved skin penetration, stability, and spreadability. The outcomes In vitro were similar to those of conventional antifungal formulations. It was discovered to be non-irritating, harmless, and appropriate for topical use.