767FORMULATION AND EVALUATION OF ANTIFUNGAL TOPICAL GEL USING VITEX NEGUNDO LEAF EXTRACT WITH CARBOPOL 940 AND SODIUM CARBOXYMETHYLCELLULOSE AS POLYMERIC BASESThe present study was undertaken to formulate and evaluate an antifungal topical gel incorporating ethanolic leaf extract of Vitex negundo Linn. using different polymeric bases, namely Carbopol 940 and Sodium Carboxymethylcellulose (Na CMC), with Polyethylene glycol (PEG) as a humectant. Six gel formulations (F1–F6) were prepared by varying the polymer concentrations. Preformulation studies including organoleptic characterization, phytochemical screening, FTIR compatibility analysis, and UV spectrophotometric evaluation were conducted. All formulations were evaluated for appearance, pH, viscosity, spreadability, extrudability, in vitro drug diffusion across a dialysis membrane, and short-term accelerated stability at 40°C/75% RH for one month. Preliminary phytochemical screening confirmed the presence of flavonoids, tannins, phenolic compounds, sterols, and carbohydrates in the ethyl acetate extract. FTIR spectra confirmed the absence of major drug-excipient interactions. Formulation F4 (Carbopol 940: 2%, Na CMC: 1%) demonstrated the highest cumulative drug release of 82.25% at 6 hours, with a pH of 8.15 (adjusted to 6.95), viscosity of 4,34,060 cps, and spreadability of 20.53 g·cm/s. Stability studies confirmed that F4 remained physically and chemically stable over one month. These findings suggest that Vitex negundo gel formulation F4 holds significant potential as a safe, effective, and stable natural antifungal topical preparation]]>1612026Vitex negundo; Antifungal gel; Carbopol 940; Sodium carboxymethylcellulose; In vitro drug diffusionKaviya L,Dr. Chandra S,Malathi R, Manivasagam M, Monisha S3, Nandhakumar M3, Pachiyappan JAssociate Professor, Department of Pharmacognosy, Sri Lakshmi Narayan College of Pharmacy, Dharmapuri- 636701, Tamil Nadu, India,Principal, Department of Pharmacognosy, Sri Lakshmi Narayan College of Pharmacy, Dharmapuri-636701, Tamil Nadu, India,Students Department of Pharmacognosy, Sri Lakshmi Narayan College of Pharmacy, Dharmapuri- 636701, Tamil Nadu, India