Abstract

DESIGN OF DERMA STICKS OF ABRUS PRECATORIUS FOR THE TREATMENT OF GYNECOLOGICAL SKIN INFECTIONS

K. Purushotham Rao, Savita Sonawane, P. Sagare, Pratima S, Anuradha Patil, Rajsree Ingin

Abstract

Candidosis (Candidiasis, moniliasis) is an infection of the skin, mucosa and rarely of the internal organs, caused by yeast like fungus Candida albicans, normally present in vagina. Candida albicans is an ovoid or spherical budding cell, which produces pseudo-mycelia both in culture and in tissues. Candida species are normal inhabitants of the skin and mucosa. Over the last two decades, there has been a dramatic increase in the rate of superficial and invasive fungal infections. Approximately three-quarters of all women experience at least one episode of vulvavaginal candidiasis during their life time and nearly half of them suffer from multiple episode. The manifestations of vulva vaginal candidiasis are often painful and uncomfortable and can include intense itching, irritation, vaginal discharge and dysuria. Gynecological skin disorders referring to inflammatory and infectious conditions affecting the vaginal mucosa and vulvitis often accompanies vaginal pain, itching and burning sensation. The topical drug delivery systems available for the treatment have several disadvantages like greasiness, inconvenient to store and requires applicator or use of fingertip, which may lead to contamination. Therefore, it was found essential to find an alternative to counter all the above disadvantages effectively and hence in the present work, formulation and development of medicated sticks has been planned with the herbal Abrus Precatorius drug which is very well known for the anti bacterial and anti fungal activity. The preparation and characterization of medicated sticks was carried out in four phases. Phase I studies includes preparation of medicated sticks using the ointment bases with varied concentrations of waxes. Phase II studies involves characterization of prepared medicated derma sticks like weight, thickness and length. Phase III studies involves stability studies of prepared formulations. Phase IV Studies involves anti microbial studies by zone inhibition method. Phase V: Primary skin irritation studies carried out on rabbits and guinea pigs and in healthy human volunteers. Showed no sensitization and edema on skin after 72 hrs of application. The results of present study revealed that the prepared medicated sticks of Abrus Precatorius are convenient, equally effective, without any contamination chances on application and free from skin irritation.

Keywords: Abrus Precatorius, medicated sticks.