Formulation & evaluation of fluconazole gel

Abstract

Fluconazole is a synthetic triazole with antifungal activity. Fluconazole preferentially inhibits fungal cytochrome P-450 sterol C-14 alpha-demethylation, resulting in the accumulation of fungal 14 alpha-methyl sterols, the loss of normal fungal sterols, and fungi static activity. Fluconazole is also used to prevent fungal infection in people who have a weak immune system caused by cancer treatment, bone marrow transplant, or diseases such as AIDS. Fluconazole is also used to treat a certain type of meningitis in people with HIV or AIDS. The gel was formulated by changing the polymer ratio. The present study was designed to formulate and evaluate different formulae of topical gel containing fluconazole for treatment of fungal infection of skin. The gel was formulated by using different polymers with different concentration as Carbopol 940, Hydroxypropyl methylcellulose E4M, Methyl cellulose, Pectin and Pluronic P407. Ten different formulae were prepared and characterized physically in term of colour, syneresis, spread ability, pH, drug content and rheological properties. In-vitro drug release in phosphate buffer pH 5.5 and permeation study through cellulose membrane, using a modified Franz diffusion cell, were performed. The results of in vitro drug release and its permeation studies showed that the highest values were from F3(91.3% of drug released after 2 hr). Also, F3 shows the highest antifungal activity.