#59 Formulation and evaluation of antifungal emulgel using Calotropis gigantea latex

Abstract

Medicinal plants are an important source for the development of antifungal agents. The objective of the present study was to develop an antifungal emulgel using Calotropis gigantea latex extract. Emulgel comes to favor the hydrophobic drugs to give the advantage of gel. Emulgel has several advantages in the field of dermatology such as being thixotropic, greaseless, easily spreadable, easily removable, emollient non-staining, bio-friendly, transparent and pleasing appearance. Ethanolic extract of the Calotropis gigantea latex was tested against fungi strains. The inhibitory effect was assessed by the disc-diffusion method. The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and minimum fungicidal concentration (MFC) were also determined by serial dilution method. The ethanolic extract was subjected to qualitative phytochemical screening for the presence of bioactive constituents. The ethanolic extract was showed the presence of many biologically active molecules such as flavonoids, alkaloids, triterpenoids, steroids, saponins, phenols, and glycosides. The latex extract was showed a significant zone of inhibition in a dose-dependent manner. The MIC and MFC values of latex extract against fungal strains vary from 1 mg to 8 mg and the results were comparable with Fluconazole as a standard. From these results, it reveals that the latex extract of Calotropis gigantea possesses potent fungicidal activity along with the antimicrobial activity.