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. 2022 Oct 26;13(4):203.
doi: 10.3390/jfb13040203.

In Vitro and In Vivo Evaluation of a Nano-Tool Appended Oilmix (Clove and Tea Tree Oil) Thermosensitive Gel for Vaginal Candidiasis

Abdulrab Ahmed M Alkhanjaf  1 , Md Tanwir Athar  2 , Zabih Ullah  2 , Ahmad Umar  3   4 , Ibrahim Ahmed Shaikh  5
Affiliations

In Vitro and In Vivo Evaluation of a Nano-Tool Appended Oilmix (Clove and Tea Tree Oil) Thermosensitive Gel for Vaginal Candidiasis

Abdulrab Ahmed M Alkhanjaf et al. J Funct Biomater. .

Abstract

The main objective of the proposed work was the development of a thermosensitive gel (containing clove and tea tree oil) for the management of vaginal candidiasis. Both oils have been recommended to be used separately in a topical formulation for vaginal candidiasis. Incorporating two natural ingredients (clove and tea tree oil) into a product give it a broad antimicrobial spectrum and analgesic properties. The two oils were mixed together at a 3:1 ratio and converted into o/w nanoemulsion using the aqueous titration method and plotting pseudo ternary phase diagrams. Further transformations resulted in a gel with thermosensitive properties. To determine the final formulation's potential for further clinical investigation, in vitro analyses (viscosity measurement, MTT assay, mucoadhesion, ex vivo permeation) and in vivo studies (fungal clearance kinetics in an animal model) were conducted. The current effort leveraged the potential of tea tree and clove oils as formulation ingredients and natural therapeutic agents for vaginal infections. Its synergy generated a stable and effective thermosensitive gel that can be utilized for recurrent candidiasis and other infections.

Keywords: MTT assay; ex vivo permeation study; mucoadhesion; nanoemulsion; pseudo-ternary phase diagram.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Pseudo-ternary phase diagram depicting Oilmix, Tween 20 (surfactant), and Labrasol (co-surfactant) at varying Smix ratios (Group (a) to Group (c) on a pseudo-ternary phase diagram based on aqueous titration (h).
Figure 2
Figure 2
Globule size analysis of nanoemulsion by zetasizer. The average droplet size was 62.11 nm, with a PDI of 0.359.
Figure 3
Figure 3
The TEM micrographs showed that the nanoemulsion droplets had spherical shape, were discrete, appeared dark, and contained an amorphous core.
Figure 4
Figure 4
Clearance kinetics C. albicans infection in oestradiol-treated oophorectomized rats (n = 6). A significant difference (p < 0.001) was observed between all three formulations.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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Grants and funding

This research was funded by the Deanship of Scientific Research at Najran University, Najran, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia under the Research Groups funding program grant no. NU/ RG/MRC/11/2.

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