Hypertension is a widespread chronic disorder that requires effective and patient-friendly therapeutic strategies to ensure Candidiasis is a common opportunistic fungal infection primarily caused by Candida species, affecting mucosal and cutaneous tissues, with increasing prevalence due to immunosuppression, antibiotic misuse, and hormonal imbalance. Conventional antifungal therapies, though effective, are often associated with adverse effects, recurrence, and emerging drug resistance, necessitating the exploration of safer and effective alternative therapies. Herbal formulations derived from medicinal plants offer a promising approach owing to their bioactive phytoconstituents and minimal side effects. Salvia verbenaca (family: Lamiaceae), traditionally used for its antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, and wound-healing properties, has gained attention as a potential antifungal agent. The present study focuses on the formulation development and evaluation of a herbal cream incorporating an extract of Salvia verbenaca for the management of candidiasis. The plant material was subjected to extraction using suitable solvents, followed by preliminary phytochemical screening to identify active constituents such as flavonoids, phenolics, terpenoids, and essential oils known for antifungal activity. A topical herbal cream was formulated using appropriate excipients and optimized for consistency, stability, and patient acceptability. The formulated cream was evaluated for physicochemical parameters including appearance, pH, viscosity, spreadability, homogeneity, and stability under different storage conditions. In-vitro antifungal activity against Candida albicans was assessed using standard microbiological methods, and the results were compared with a marketed antifungal preparation. The herbal cream exhibited satisfactory physicochemical characteristics, good stability, and significant antifungal activity, indicating its therapeutic potential. The findings of this study suggest that Salvia verbenaca-based herbal cream may serve as a safe, effective, and economical alternative for the treatment of candidiasis. Further in-vivo studies and clinical investigations are recommended to validate its efficacy and safety for clinical application.
Keywords: Candida albicans, Salvia verbenaca, Herbal Cream, Candidiasis, Antifungal
How to cite this article: Sabe, A. A, Gupta, R.A. Formulation Development and Evaluation of Herbal Cream of Salvia verbenaca for Candidiasis. Int J Drug Deliv Technol. 2026;16(1): 49-54. DOI: 10.25258/ijddt.16.1.5