Herbal Antifungal Cream to treat Onychomycosis
Fungal skin infections are now incredibly common worldwide, affecting many people. It has been reported that 40 million individuals suffer from fungal infections. The World Health Organization (WHO) emphasizes the significant role of traditional medicine, including herbal remedies, in global primary health care. A substantial portion of the world's population, over 80% in more than 170 of the WHO's 194 member states currently relies on some form of traditional medicine for their primary healthcare needs. Herbal antifungal creams play an important role in treating fungal infections by utilizing the natural antifungal properties of plants as their active ingredients. These creams are topical medications applied to the skin, scalp, or nails to treat fungal infections. They work by killing or inhibiting the growth of fungi. As a targeted drug delivery system, antifungal creams deliver the medication directly to the infected area. This approach reduces the amount of drug required and minimizes the risk of systemic side effects. Herbal antifungal creams that include neem and tea tree oil harness the potent antifungal properties of these natural ingredients. Neem (Azadirachta indica) contains compounds such as Nimbidin and Azadirachtin, which disrupt fungal cell membrane integrity and replication, offering broad-spectrum antifungal, antibacterial, and anti-inflammatory benefits. Tea tree oil (Melaleuca alternifolia) is known for its strong antifungal activity, particularly against common skin fungi such as Candida species and Dermatophytes, by damaging their cell membranes. This study aims to be the first to assess the antifungal effectiveness of creams formulated with Melaleuca alternifolia (Tea tree oil) essential oil and Azadirachta indica (Neem). Primary healthcare, antifungal, Antibacterial, Antiinflammatory, Melaleuca Alternifolia, Azadirachta indica.
Authors
- Lembhe Swaranjali
- Pawar Amisha
Institutions
- Department of Chemistry and Earth Sciences (BY)
Publication Details
- Journal
- International Journal of Pharmaceutical Research and Applications
- Published
- 2025-05-01
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.35629/4494-1005268285
- Primary Topic
- Nail Diseases and Treatments
- Type
- article
- Field-Weighted Citation Impact
- 0.00