1*PhD Research Scholar, Pacific Academy of Higher Education and Research, Udaipur, Rajasthan. Email: muhammadpharma.shg58@gmail.com (Corresponding Author)
2Professor, Pacific College of Pharmacy, Pacific Academy of Higher Education and Research University, Rajasthan
3HOD and Professor, Department of Pharmaceutics, Indrayani Vidya Mandir Krishnarao Bhegade Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and Research, Maharashtra. Email: amolsrakte@gmail.com
4Professor and Additional Principal, Geetanjali Institute of Pharmacy, Geetanjali University, Rajasthan
Received: 12th Dec, 2025; Revised: 12th Feb 2026; Accepted: 13th Feb, 2026; Available Online: 10th March, 2026
The current investigation aimed to study the antifungal effect of Miconazole Nitrate, along with herbal essential oils such as Cinnamon oil and Nigella seed oil, when prepared as a microemulsion, and to explore the synergistic antifungal effect. Microemulsions were prepared by titrating different oil-to-Smix (Surfactant + co-surfactant) ratios with water, and the region was determined using a pseudoternary phase diagram. Formulations were characterised for viscosity, pH, Drug content, Globule size, Zeta potential, and stability. Optimised formulations (COM3 and NOM3) were incorporated into 1% w/w Carbopol gel to form COM3-G1 and NOM3-G2, which were evaluated for physicochemical properties, Drug release, and antifungal activity. An in vitro antifungal study confirmed that when Miconazole Nitrate is combined with essential oils in a microemulsion, it exhibits a synergistic antifungal effect compared with the drug and the oils used separately. Miconazole nitrate microemulsions based on Cinnamon oil and Nigella seed oil were prepared for topical application. COM3 and NOM3 formulations were considered optimised because of high transmittance, low viscosity, high drug content, topical pH, greater in vitro drug release, and good stability. In vitro antifungal effects were studied using the Candida Albicans strain. The prepared microemulsion drug delivery system can improve the therapeutic effect of topical drugs, and a combination of a drug and essential oils in microemulsion form showed synergistic activity, yielding a better therapeutic effect.
Keywords: Microemulsion, Pseudoternary diagram, Miconazole Nitrate, Antifungal agent, Cinnamon oil, Nigella seed oil
How to cite this article: Ali M, Dwivedi J, Rakte AS, Kataria U. Herbal Essential Oil-Enriched Microemulsion Gel as a Novel Topical Carrier for Antifungal Agent. Int J Drug Deliv Technol. 2026;16(3): 689. DOI: 10.25258/ijddt.16.3.76
Source of support: Nil.
Conflict of interest: None