FORMULATION OF AN ANTI-DERMATOPHYTE CREAM FROM HYDRO-ALCOHOLIC EXTRACT OF EUCALYPTUS CAMALDULENSIS LEAVES

Throughout the world, there has been an increasing incidence of fungal infections, and because of drug resistance and toxicity associated with long-term treatment with antifungal drugs, search for new drugs to treat fungal infections is ongoing. The aim of the present study was to formulate herbal antifungal cream containing hydro-alcoholic extract of Eucalyptus camaldulensis as an anti-dermatophytic preparation and evaluate its physicochemical properties and stability. Firstly, the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of hydro-alcoholic extract of leaves of E. camaldulensis was determined against various dermatophyte species by in vitro tube dilution technique. To select the best cream formulation, one general formula of cleansing cream was considered and then corrected. The best base formula was chosen according to its monotonousness, straightness and external attractiveness. The formulation containing 1% of the plant extract was prepared and controlled by standard methods. Finally, a cream containing bees wax 10%, liquid paraffin 58.8%, hard paraffin 1.2%, spermaceti 5%, borax 1.5%, tween 80 1.5%, 0.15% methyl paraben, 0.05% propyl paraben, 0.15% lactic acid, 1% Eucalyptus extract and water was chosen as the best formulation. The final product was a w/o emulsion cream with suitable appearance and desirable physicochemical stability. Due to the stability of the extract in the cream formulation, it can be formulated for treatment of fungal skin infections.