Development and Evaluation of Anti-Leprotic Emulgel Using Chaulmoogra and Neem

Mycobacterium leprae is the cause of leprosy, also known as Hansen's disease, which is still a severe worldwide health concern that mostly affects skin and peripheral nerves.Due to oral therapy's gastrointestinal adverse effects and greasy, foul-smelling topical formulations, conventional treatments frequently have low patient compliance. The current study used Carbopol 940 as a gelling agent in an Oil-in-Water (O/W) emulsion basis to create and assess a novel herbal anti-leprotic emulgel containing Chaulmoogra oil (Hydnocarpus wightiana) and Neem oil (Azadirachta indica) as active ingredients.Three formulations (F1, F2, F3) were prepared by optimizing excipient concentrations. The optimized batch (F3) was subjected to chemical identification tests, physicochemical evaluation, in vitro drug release, and antimicrobial activity studies. Chemical identification confirmed the presence of characteristic cyclopentenyl fatty acids (hydnocarpic and chaulmoogric acids) in Chaulmoogra oil (saponification value: 205 mgKOH/g; iodine value: 98 g I₂/100g; acid value: 24 mgKOH/g) and triterpenoids including azadirachtin, nimbin, and nimbidin in Neem oil. The optimised emulgel showed a pH of 6.20, homogeneous homogeneity without phase separation, good spreadability (6.4 g.cm/sec), and satisfactory extrudability (90%). A cumulative release of 41.83% over the course of eight hours was demonstrated by in vitro drug release using Franz diffusion cell, demonstrating sustained and regulated administration. The formulation's antibacterial activity was confirmed by antimicrobial testing using the agar well diffusion method, which showed different zones of inhibition. The emulgel provides a topical alternative to traditional leprosy treatments that is non-greasy, aesthetically pleasing, and patient compliant.