DEVELOPMENT OF A NATURAL TOOTHGEL: A REVIEW ON NEEM AND GINGER-BASED FORMULATIONS

The growing demand for plant-based pharmaceutical products has accelerated research into herbal oral care formulations. Continuous exposure to synthetic surfactants, preservatives, and antimicrobial agents present in conventional dentifrices has raised concerns regarding long-term safety and oral mucosal compatibility. As a result, herbal alternatives derived from medicinal plants are gaining increasing scientific attention. The present review comprehensively evaluates the pharmaceutical relevance of a natural tooth gel formulated with Azadirachta indica (neem) and Zingiber officinale (ginger). These plants are well documented for their antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and biofilm-inhibitory activities, making them particularly suitable for oral health applications. This article discusses the phytochemical profiles of neem and ginger, their mechanisms of action against oral pathogens, and their functional role in preventing plaque formation and periodontal inflammation. In addition, formulation considerations such as selection of gelling agents, excipients, and stability-enhancing components are critically reviewed, along with key physicochemical and microbiological evaluation parameters. Although individual effects of neem and ginger are supported by experimental and clinical evidence, limited studies have explored their combined application in toothgel formulations. The review highlights existing challenges related to extract standardization, sensory acceptability, and regulatory compliance, and emphasizes the need for further in vivo and clinical investigations to confirm long-term safety and therapeutic effectiveness.