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A REVIEW ON FORMULATION AND

EVALUATION OF POLYHERBAL
ANTIFUNGAL CREAM
JINCY V VARGHESE1*, KRISHNAPRIYA E P2, MEGHA H3, MUBASHIRA P M4,

REJIN JOSE5, SHANA P K6

1*Assistant Professor Department of Pharmaceutics, 23456 B Pharm students, Nehru College of

Pharmacy, Pampady, Thrissur.

Abstract:
Mimosa pudica, Lawsonia inermis, Azardiracta indica, and Curcuma longa are medicinal plants that have been
employed for antifungal activity in numerous herbal medicinal systems for thousands of years, including Ayurveda,
Homeopathy, and Siddha. The current study looked at the antifungal properties of poly herbal cream and how they
were made. Excipients such borax, triethanolamine, potassium hydroxide, beeswax, liquid paraffin, and other
additives like methyl paraben, propyl paraben, and distilled water were used to create the cream. The PH, viscosity,
spreadability, and antifungal activity of each formulation were all tested. The polyherbal cream remained steady
throughout the trial, and the values of several parameters were judged to be optimal. The poly herbal cream has
antifungal action against Candida albicans, according to the study.

Key Words:

Polyherbal cream, Lawsonia inermis, Azardiracta indica, Curcuma longa

Introduction
COSMECEUTICALS
The word "cosmetics" comes from the Greek word "kosmtikos," which means "power, arrangement, and ability in
beautifying."

Cosmetic pharmaceutical hybrids known as 'cosmeceuticals' are topical cosmetic pharmaceutical hybrids designed
to enhance appearance by including substances that have extra health-related activities or advantages. Skin
moisturisers, perfumes, lipsticks, fingernail polishes, eye and face makeup preparations, shampoos, permanent
waves, hair colours, teeth pastes, and deodorants, as well as any item intended for use as a component of a
cosmetic product, are all covered in this definition. Cosmeceuticals are products that combine the benefits of
medications and cosmetics to improve the health and appearance of the skin through external application.

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HERBAL COSMETICS
Herbal cosmetics are products that contain phytochemicals derived from a variety of botanical sources, which
influence skin functions and give nutrients for healthy skin and hair. Herbal cosmetics are natural plants and their
products that are utilised in cosmetic preparations for their aromatic value. Herbs and essential oils used in
cosmetics must not promise to penetrate beyond the skin's surface layers or have any therapeutic benefit, according
to the Drug and Cosmetic Act. The rising demand for natural products has opened up new opportunities in the
cosmeceutical business. [3]

CREAM
Creams are homogenous, semi-solid, or viscous formulations with a fluid consistency that are designed for external
application to the skin or mucous membranes for protective, medicinal, or preventive purposes, especially where an
occlusive effect is not required.

They are semisolids made up of one or more medicaments in solution or dispersion in a suitable base. They're made
with hydrophilic or hydrophobic bases to make treatments that are almost miscible with skin secretions. [4]

Advantages:

 Convenient and simple to use.

 First-pass metabolism should be avoided.
 Intravenous therapy is inconvenient, as are the many circumstances of absorption, such as PH changes, the
presence of gastric emptying time, and so on.
 Avoid medication level fluctuations due to inter- and intra-patent changes.

Disadvantages:

 Continuous drug input achieves efficacy with a lower total daily dose of medicine.
 Contact dermatitis skin irritation may occur as a result of the medicine and/or excipients.
 Allergic reactions are a possibility.
 Some drugs have a low permeability through the skin.
 Can only be used for medications that require very low plasma concentrations to work.

Ideal properties:

 Easy to apply is one of the best qualities.

 Easily spread over the skin.
 It has a pleasant aspect.
 Skin irritation is reduced.
 When applied to the skin, it will melt or liquefy.

Types:
 Oil-in-water (o/w) type
 Water-in-oil (w/o) type
 Cosmetic creams
 Medicated creams

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Oil- in- water (o/w)

oil is in dispersed phase.

Water in a continuous phase.

They are less greasy and easier to remove with water.

Example: Fluocinolone Acetonide Cream

Water in oil (w/o) type

Oil – Continuous phase

Water - Dispersed phase

It's more difficult to deal with.

A W/O cream will release them more quickly than an O/W cream because they are hydrophobic.

Example : Moisturizing and cold cream

Cosmetic Creams
These creams are widely used to treat a wide range of skin problems (dermatoses).

Vanishing creams, foundation creams, all-purpose creams, night creams, skin protectors, and hand creams are only a
few examples.

Medicated Creams
These creams are semisolid emulsions that include medication that is suspended or dissolved.

Antibiotic creams, antifungal creams, and zinc oxide cream, for example. [5]

ANTIFUNGAL CREAM
Antifungal creams are a generic word for a variety of treatments that contain antifungal drugs and are applied
topically to the skin to treat and control fungal infections.

A moisture barrier may be included in the formulation to protect and condition the skin. Antifungal creams are used
as a palliative treatment for existing fungal infections as well as a preventative approach in circumstances where a
fungal infection is a possibility.

Antifungals function by taking advantage of distinctions between mammalian and fungal cells to eliminate the
fungus without harming the host. Fungi and humans are both eukaryotics, unlike bacteria. At the molecular level,
fungal and human cells are therefore identical.[6]

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FORMULATION
A cream based on an oil-in-water emulsion (semisolid) was developed. The oil-soluble components (Liquid Paraffin,
Bees Wax, and Wool Fat) were dissolved in the oil phase and heated to 75°C . Components that are water soluble
(Methyl paraben, Propyl paraben, Triethanolamine, Glycerin, Borax, and Potassium Hydroxide) were dissolved in
aqueous phase and heated to 75°C. Following the addition of ethanolic extracts of Mimosa pudica, Lawsonia inermis,
Azardiracta indica, and Aloe vera, the oil phase was transferred in part to the water phase with constant stirring. Add
one or two drops of rose oil to the mixture. [7]

COMPOSITION OF CREAM

INGREDIENTS QUANTITY OF INGREDIENTS FOR 20 GRAMS

F1 F2 F3 F4
Liquid Paraffin 5.57ml 5.57ml 5.57ml 5.57ml
Wool Fat 0.4g 0.4g 0.4g 0.4g
Bees Wax 10g 10g 10g 10g
Borax 0.2g 0.2g 0.2g 0.2g
Potassium Hydroxide 0.2g 0.2g 0.2g 0.2g
Methyl Paraben 0.042g 0.042g 0.042g 0.042g
Propyl Paraben 0.042g 0.042g 0.042g 0.042g
Glycerin 2.14ml 2.14ml 2.14ml 2.14ml
Triethanolamine 0.342ml 0.342ml 0.342ml 0.342ml
Distilled Water 4ml 4ml 4ml 4ml
Rose Oil 1ml 1ml 1ml 1ml
Aloe vera 0.42ml 0.42ml 0.42ml 0.42ml
Ethanolic extract of 1ml 0.5ml 0.5ml 0.5ml
Azardicta indica

Ethanolic extract of 0.5ml 1ml 0.5ml 0.5ml

Lawsonia inermis

Ethanolic extract of 0.5ml 0.5ml 1ml 0.5ml

Mimosa pudica

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EVALUATION OF CREAM
ORGANOLEPTIC PROPERTIES
The formulation was characterized for organoleptic properties such as color, odor. The
formulations are visually inspected for its clarity and presence of any foreign particles.

DETERMINATION OF PH
The pH meter was calibrated using standard buffer. About 0.50g of the cream was weighed
and dissolved in 50ml of distilled water and the pH was measured by using a digital pH meter.

HOMOGENICITY
The formulations were tested for the homogeneity, visual inspection and touch.

AFTER FEEL EFFECT

Emollient action, slipperiness and amount of residue left after the application of cream was
checked.

REMOVAL
The ease of the removal of the cream applied was examined by washing the applied part with
tap water.

IRRITANCY
The cream was applied on the skin and leave for few minutes and the effect was studied.

STABILITY STUDY
The stability study is conducted by keeping the drug substance in their proposed pack or
prototype containers in the case of bulk drugs, in sufficient number in room temperature away
from light.

DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION

In the present work, it was decided to extract and formulate polyherbal antifungal cream
from Mimosa pudica, Lawsonia inermis, Azardiracta indica, Curcuma longa. The antifungal
cream was o/w type emulsion, hence can be easily washed with plane water that is better
customer compliance. There is an increasing demand for herbal cosmetics because of fewer
side effects and is safe to use. The extracts exhibited good anti-fungal activity. The prepared
formulation has no evidence of phase separation and good consistency during the study
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period. Stability parameters like appearance, nature and odour of the formulations showed
that there was no significant variation during the study period. The prepared formulations
showed proper pH range that is approximately 5.5 and has good anti-fungal activity; it
conforms the compatibility of the formulations to skin secretions. The cream is expected to
produce protection to the skin from fungal infections.

BIBLIOGRAPHY:

1. Kumar Sumit, Swarankar Vivek, Sharma Sujata, BAldi Ashish, et al., Herbal Cosmetics:
Used for Skin 7 Hair. Inventi Rapid: cosmaceutiocals Vol.2012, Issue 4 [ISSN 0976-
3864].
2. Dinesh et al., Methanol extract of leaves and seeds of Bixa Orellana. Journal of
Phrarmaceutical Science 2011.
3. Glaser DA, Anti-aging producr and cosmaceuticals. Facial Plast Surg, Clin NAM,
12(4).363-372, 2004.
4. Larsson, S.C.; L.; Naslund, I.; Rutegard, J.; Wolk, A. Vitamin A, retinol, and carotenoids
and the risk of gastric cancer: a prospective cohort study. Am. J. Clin.Nutr., 85(2); 497-
50.3, 2007.
5. Text book of cosmetic Formulations; Gaurav Kumar Sharma Jayesh Gadiya, Meenakshi
Dhanawat.P.51-66
6. Moore EC, PAdinglionr AA, Wasiak J, Paul E, Cleland burns: risk factors and outcomes.
J Burn Care Res 2010; 31(2):257-263.
7. Prashant Chavan, Mallinath Kalshetti, Nikhil Navindgikar et al., Formulation and
Evaluation of Polyherbal Cream, International Journal of Current Pharmaceutical
Research ISSN- 0975- 7066; Vol 12, Issue 4, 2020

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