Formulation, Stability, and Antifungal Potential of Lemongrass Oil-Loaded Organogel in BALB/c Mice

The current work intended to develop a stable, lemon grass oil (LGO) amalgamated organogel with sustained release of drug profile and superior antimicrobial potential. The LGO organogel were further analyzed for organoleptic character, diffusion, spreadability, and antifungal potential. The organogels possessed slight viscous texture of yellowish pale colour. The pH of the gels (5.65 ± 0.05 to 5.81 ± 0.05) was adjusted to be in close proximity with the skin pH. The LGO loading capacity (97.10 to 101.30%) of organogels was within established and acceptable limits. The textural and rheological profile were within optimum values. A complete 90-100% of LGO diffusion from the organogel required 912 hr. The organogels exhibited excellent prolonged release drug profile in all optimization batches.The F4-optimized organogel displayed remarkable sustained release pattern of drug release. The viscosity in formulation batches were in the range of from 2548 (F6) to 3412 cP (F3) while the spreadability ranged between 9.85 to 13.84 gm. cm/sec. At a concentration of 30μg/ml, the optimised batch of organogel (F4) exhibited the maximum antifungal efficacy based on the zone of inhibition (33 mm). Mice in Group 6 exhibited a 165% reduction in erythema severity compared to Group 5, indicating the superior efficacy of the LGO loaded organogel in treating superficial mycosis and promoting lesion recovery. Moreover, organogel exhibited excellent physical and chemical stability under accelerated conditions, making it a promising formulation for long-term use. This enhanced therapeutic effect is likely attributed to the formulation's immediate drug availability, ensuring a robust local antifungal action at the infection site. The intended work exhibits the efficacious development of LGO-loaded sustained-release organogel with superior antifungal potential.