Formulation and evaluation of the antifungal activity of Neem seed oil ointment against Tinea capitis.
Aremu .I. Olusola and Ikuyajesin. T. Rasheedat
1Department of Pharmaceutics and Industrial pharmacy, Faculty of
Phamaceutical Sciences, University of Ilorin, Ilorin.
2Department of Pharmaceutics and Pharmaceutical Technology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Olabisi Onabanjo University, Sagamu Campus.
Corresponding author: Aremu I. Olusola
E-mail – solabank@yahoo.com Phone : +2348033259890
ABSTRACT
Background: The plant Azadirachta indica (Meliaceae) , a tree widely grown in Nigeria has been reported variously to have medicinal properties. The development of appropriate dosage formulation of useful therapeutic value has been a challenge.
Objective: The present study therefore seeks to evaluate oil from Neem seed both in extract form and in ointment formulation against fungal organisms.
Method: The oil was extracted from dried seed kernel with n-Hexane, Ethanol and Chloroform respectively at seed weight to solvent ratio 1:10. The extract was evaluated as antifungal using Tricophyton violaceum and Epidermophyton floccosum as test organisms. The extract with highest antifungal activity was invariably formulated into ointment at concentrations 0%w/w, 2.5%w/w,5%w/w, 7.5%w/w & 10%w/w respectively using hydrocarbon ointment base .The ointment was evaluated for physical characteristics and tested against Tricophyton violaceum and Epidermophyton floccosumusing Whitfield ointment as reference.
Result: The result showed that n-Hexane out of solvents for extraction gave the highest Neem seed oil yield (25.0%w/w) and zones of inhibition 2.1cm and 1.7cm against Tricophyton violaceum and Epidermophyton floccosumrespectively. Ointment formulations gave favourable physical characteristics and had higher zones of inhibition at 7.5% w/w, 10.0% w/w against Tricophyton violaceum and at 5.0% w/w, 7.5% w/w, 10.0% w/w against Epidermophyton floccosum(p<0.05) than the reference standard (Whitfield’s Ointment)
Conclusion: Neem seed oil ointment could be used in Tinea capitisinfection
Keywords: Azadirachta indica, Inhibition, Tricophyton violaceum, Epidermophyton floccosum