Design, Characterization and Antifungal activity of Cullen corylifolium Seed Extract-loaded Nanoemulgel with Enhanced Dermal Penetration

This study presents a novel antifungal topical delivery approach through the development of a nano-emulgel incorporating Cullen corylifolium seed extract, a medicinal herb known for its broad-spectrum antimicrobial activity. Bioactive constituents were extracted using ethanolic Soxhlet extraction, followed by phytochemical screening and GC-MS profiling to identify key antifungal compounds. Six nano-emulgel formulations (CN1–CN6) were prepared using Carbopol 940 as a gelling agent, along with Tween 80, glycerin, and liquid paraffin. Physicochemical evaluations including pH, viscosity, spreadability, and extrudability confirmed their suitability for topical application. ATR-FTIR analysis confirmed no chemical incompatibility between the extract and excipients. Among all, formulation CN3 demonstrated optimal physical and mechanical properties. Scanning Electron Microscopy, which was simply employed for surface morphology analysis only, revealed well-defined emulsion droplets dispersed within gel matrix, and particle studies, which was used to understand the hydrodynamic size, showed nanoparticles with average particle size of 737.82 nm with zeta potential of –3.72 mV, indicating modest colloidal stability. In-vitro drug release studies exhibited a sustained release profile, with a cumulative release of 92.9% over 240 minutes, best fitting Higuchi and Korsmeyer–Peppas kinetic models. Antifungal testing against Candida albicans demonstrated a significant inhibition zone (17 mm) at a concentration of 200 µg/mL. Accelerated stability studies over three months confirmed the retention of physical integrity and antifungal efficacy. These findings suggest that the developed nano-emulgel system offers a promising natural, stable, and efficacious strategy for topical antifungal therapy with enhanced skin penetration and prolonged drug release.