The occurrence of topical fungal infections is increasing nowadays. Cutaneous fungal infections like cutaneous candidiasis are more prominent in patients associated with AIDS. Current available strategies for the treatment of cutaneous fungal infections are creams or gels which show various adverse effects on skin along with systemic absorption. These drawbacks can be overcome by using various novel drug delivery systems. So, the present investigation aims at exploring the potential of fatty acid vesicles (ufasomes) for the topical delivery of clotrimazole. Oleic acid was employed as a fatty material for the preparation of vesicles. Clotrimazole-loaded oleic acid vesicles were prepared using a thin film hydration method. Prepared vesicles were characterized for size, size distribution, shape, thermal behaviour (differential scanning calorimetry), in vitro release, in vitro antifungal activity, in vitro skin permeation and retention studies and for in vivo antifungal activity. Transmission electron microscopic (TEM) images confirmed the formation of vesicular dispersion (ufasomes) of clotrimazole. Oleic acid vesicles possessed high drug entrapment (49.5 ± 1.0%) and optimum size (455 ± 22 nm) along with good colloidal characteristics (polydispersity index = 0.210 ± 0.035 & zeta potential = - 22.45 ± 0.25 mV) at 4:6 drug-to-oleic acid ratio. In vitro drug release study showed sustained release of drug from the vesicular dispersion. Skin permeation and skin retention studies suggested accumulation of drug in the epidermal part of the skin. In vivo study confirmed prolonged release of drug from oleic acid vesicle up to five days indicating its usefulness for long-term therapy. So, it can be concluded from the present study that fatty acid vesicle may be a good approach to treat topical fungal infections.

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To evaluate the anti-diabetic activity of ethanolic extract of Trichosanthes tricuspidata root in alloxan induced diabetic rats and to perform the phytochemical screening. The extraction, preliminary phytochemical screening, anti -diabetic activity in alloxan induced diabetic rats by oral administration of extract (200 and 400 mg/kg b.w.), the blood glucose level and biochemical parameters like cholesterol, triglyceride, serum protein, SGPT, SGOT, and ALP were estimated. Phytochemical studies shows the presence of carbohydrates, proteins, glycosides and terpenoids and the ethanolic extract of T. tricuspidata root significantly lowered the blood sugar level. The above findings justified the traditional claim of anti-diabetic activity in this plant. Article Info

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