Abstract

FORMULATION AND DEVELOPMENT OF NIOSOMAL GEL CONTAINING NEOLAMARCKIA CADAMBA LEAVES EXTRACT FOR ENHANCING ITS EFFICACY

Vivek Kumar*, Alia Firdaus, Ravi Prakash Singh and Kumari Aparna

.

Abstract

The study aimed to formulate and evaluate a niosomal gel incorporating Neolamarckia cadamba leaves extract for its potential antimicrobial activity. Niosomes, as vesicular systems, enhance the bioavailability and stability of phytochemicals. Neolamarckia cadamba, known for its rich array of bioactive compounds, presents promising antimicrobial properties. This research encapsulated the methanolic extract of Neolamarckia cadamba leaves into niosomes using a thin-film hydration technique. The niosomal formulations were optimized based on vesicle size, and zeta potential. The optimized niosomes exhibited an average particle size of 83.12 nm to 417.67 nm for all formulations, and a zeta potential of average from -28.9 mV, indicating good stability. These niosomes were then incorporated into a carbopol gel matrix to enhance the formulation's applicability. The resulting niosomal gel was characterized for pH, viscosity, and spreadability. The gel maintained a pH of 6.7, suitable for topical application, with satisfactory viscosity and spreadability, ensuring ease of application and patient compliance. Antimicrobial activity was evaluated against common pathogenic strain including Escherichia coli using the Well diffusion method. The niosomal gel demonstrated significant antimicrobial activity, with zones of inhibition comparable to standard antibiotics. This enhanced activity is attributed to the improved penetration and sustained release properties of the niosomal gel formulation. In conclusion, the study successfully formulated a niosomal gel of Neolamarckia cadamba leaves extract with promising antimicrobial efficacy. This novel formulation can be a potential candidate for treating microbial infections, offering an alternative to conventional antibiotics with added benefits of improved stability and bioavailability of the phytoconstituents. Future studies should focus on in vivo evaluations and long-term stability assessments to further substantiate these findings.

Keywords: Niosomal gel, Neolamarckia cadamba, Leaves extract, antimicrobial activity, phytoconstituents.