Abstract

COMPARATIVE STUDY ON ANTIFUNGAL AND ANTIMICROBIAL ACTIVITY OF FORMULATED CLOTRIMAZOLE CREAM INCORPORATED WITH BIOTIC MATERIALS

Anand P.*, Fahmida*, Afsal V. S.*, Sulfath P. S.*, Shifana Shirin A. V.* and Sreeram K. N.*

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Abstract

Cutaneous fungal infections remained a significant health concern, particularly in immunocompromised individuals, demanding the development of more effective topical treatments. This study evaluated the anti-fungal and anti-microbial activities of formulated clotrimazole creams incorporated with Chitosan and Papaya seed extract, which had been extracted using the maceration method with methanol as the solvent. The formulations tested were C1 (Clotrimazole cream), C2 (Clotrimazole + Chitosan cream), C3 (Clotrimazole + Papaya seed extract cream), and C4 (Clotrimazole + Chitosan + Papaya seed extract cream). The anti-fungal and anti-microbial activities were assessed using the agar well diffusion method against Candida albicans and Staphylococcus aureus. The results showed that all formulations exhibited inhibitory effects against both pathogens, with formulation C4 demonstrating the largest zones of inhibition, suggesting a synergistic effect from the combination of Chitosan and Papaya seed extract. In addition to microbiological testing, the creams were evaluated for physical properties such as pH, viscosity, spreadability, washability, irritancy, phase separation, and dye solubility tests. The formulations showed improved stability, controlled release, and better skin penetration due to the inclusion of Chitosan and Papaya seed extract, which enhanced both therapeutic efficacy and skin health. These findings indicated that the combination of Chitosan and Papaya seed extract with clotrimazole offered a promising approach to improving topical treatments for fungal and bacterial infections. Future studies should focus on understanding the molecular mechanisms and conducting in vivo evaluations to confirm long-term safety and clinical applicability.

Keywords: Cutaneous fungal infection, Clotrimazole, Chitosan, Papaya seed extract, Anti-fungal, Anti-microbial, Candida albicans, Staphylococcus aureus, Synergistic effect, Physical evaluation.