Preparation, characterizations and evaluation of antifungal activity of eugenol-linalool emulgel against anthrophilic dermatophytic trichophyton rubrum
Trichophyton rubrum (T. Rubrum) is responsible for chronic cases of dermatophytosis which have high rates of resistance to antifungal drugs worldwide. The aim of this study was to formulate an emulgel of Eugenol-Linalool for the treatment of T. Rubrum infections. The emulgel was prepared by slow emulsification method and characterized for physical examination, pH analysis, swelling index, stability studies, spreading coefficient, SEM analysis, thermal analysis and PXRD studies. In-vitro antifungal activities were performed by growing T. rubrum on specialized media in petri dishes. In-vivo antifungal activity was performed in rabbits by inducing the skin infection by application of fungal strain. Results indicated that the emulgel formulation is highly stable and the physical properties of the emulgel remained quite feasible. No deterioration was observed in the formulation and the pH remained the same as the pH of skin. The viscosity and spreadability of the emulgel remained highly compatible. The results of in vitro and in vivo studies indicated that the Eugenol and Linalool both inhibited the growth of T. rubrum. Eugenol was more effective in inhibition of zone (38±0.01 mm) of T. rubrum as compared to Linalool (32.9±0.03 mm). Similarly it was observed that when the combination of both Linalool and Eugenol was used, the growth of T. rubrum (42±0.01 mm) was significantly (P < 0.05) inhibited. It is hence concluded that the emulgel containing Eugenol and Linalool possess strong in vitro and in vivo antifungal activities against the commercial strains of anthrophilic dermophytic T. Rubrum.