HIMANSHI TANWAR,*, MANU SHARMA AND MUNISH AHUJA
Department of Pharmacy, Banasthali Vidyapith, Banasthali-304 022 (Rajasthan), India
*(e-mail: tanwarhimanshi@gmail.com; Mobile: 99961 50219)
(Received: July 1, 2023; Accepted: August 7, 2023)
ABSTRACT
Oral antifungals are the most common treatment to cure fungal disease. These are effective but with some severe side effects. To overcome these side effects, now transungual delivery systems have been adopted. The objective of present study was to develop berberine chloride loaded poloxomer gel. The gel formulations were prepared in varying concentrations using thioglycolic acid as permeation enhancer. Formulations were evaluated with different parameters such as spreadability, rheology, FTIR, SEM, XRD, antifungal activity against Candida albicans and histopathology. On physiological evaluation gel showed 5.5 pH, adequate spreadability, optimum adhesion and cohesiveness as per specifications. The ex vivo permeation studies showed incorporation of berberine chloride in the gel formulations. The gel formulation components were compatible as shown in FTIR. The gel showed highest zone of inhibition against C. albicans. XRD studies showed the uniform distribution of berberine chloride in gel formulation. Gel formulations were stable and exhibited promising properties over a period of 90 days.
Key words : Transungual, poloxomer, thioglycolic acid, berberine chloride