Formulation development of an herbal gel from ethanolic extract of erythrina abyssinica for management of vaginal candidiasis

Abstract

BACKGROUND Vaginal candidiasis is a common fungal infection caused by candida species, candida albicans is the leading cause. The pathological hallmark of the disease is an acute inflammatory condition of the vulvar and vaginal mucosa caused by fungal overgrowth in the vagina and subsequent epithelial invasion and production of virulence factors’ Its management today with oral and topical antifungal agents is associated with increasing development of resistance as well undesired adverse effects which cause for search of new alternatives. GENERAL OBJECTIVE To develop a herbal gel from the ethanolic extract of Erythrina abyssinica for management of vaginal candidiasis. Specific objectives To formulate and establish the quality of a herbal gel, to investigate the efficacy of the prepared gel containing an ethanolic extract of Erythrina abyssinica against candida, to determine the acute toxicity profile of a herbal gel containing ethanolic extract of Erythrina abyssinica. METHODS This was an experimental study to formulate a herbal antifungal gel containing ethanolic extract of Erythrina abyssinica against vaginal candidiasis. Erythrina abyssinica stem bark was collected from Mityana district in Uganda and identification was done by a botanist (Dr. Lutoti Stephen) at Makerere University. Extraction was done by maceration using ethanol 96% as a solvent. Phytochemical screening of the extract was done and a gel was formulated using the master formulae indicated in chapter three. Quality control tests and antifungal assay were done on the gel. The gel was also tested for safety to determine its acute toxicity profile. 2 RESULTS A powder extract was obtained from the bark of Erythrina abyssinica by maceration with 96% ethanol. The extract had antifungal activity against C. albicans with an MIC of 251mg/ml. CandiClear was successfully formulated with strength of 2%. The 1% CandiClear had the lowest dermal irritation score and therefore the safest for topical use. CONCLUSION A herbal gel, CandiClear from the ethanolic bark extract of Erythrina abyssinica has activity against C. albicans and can be considered as an alternative to conventional creams and gels like ketoconazole cream and Nystatin pessaries. It is also safe for topical and vaginal use