Authors
Abstract
Natural products are important sources for new drug development. Though antibiotic therapies are first line of treatment for vaginal infections but prolonged use results in various side effects, hence there is a need to develop alternative therapies based upon natural products. Green tea powder (GTP) has been reported to exhibit anti-microbial activity and has synergistic effect with some antibiotics. Conversely, the role of GTP against vaginal infections has not been explored extensively. GTP is safe even at high doses but exhibits poor oral bioavailability. Encapsulation of GTP in a microemulsion (ME) vehicle would protect it against degradation. Aim of this study is to formulate GTP loaded MEs for vaginal application and to assess its efficacy against various vaginal pathogens. UV analysis of the GTP was done and solubility studies in various oils, surfactants and co-surfactants were carried out to select various phases of MEs. Titrations were carried out with various oil:Smix ratios and the data obtained was used to plot pseudo-ternary phase diagrams. The emulsion regions which corresponded to particle less, transparent regions and within GRAS limits were subjected to thermodynamic stability studies. Droplet size of thermodynamically stable MEs was found to be in nanometre range. Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus epidermidis were found to be sensitive to GTP and its ME via disc diffusion assay.
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