Mohammed Sattar Nawrooz1,
Asmaa Abdelaziz Mohamed2 
,
Mohammed Mundher Mhmood3,
Hany Akeel Al-hussaniy4
For correspondence:- Asmaa Mohamed Email: asmaa.abdelaziz@alzahraa.edu.iq Tel:009647850485328
Received: 22 January 2026 Accepted: 22 July 2026 Published: 31 July 2026
Citation: Nawrooz MS, Mohamed AA, Mhmood MM, Al-hussaniy HA. In vivo and in vitro assessment of hydrogel incorporating Malva sylvestris extract for vulvovaginal candidiasis treatment. Trop J Pharm Res 2026; 25(7):923-929 doi: https://dx.doi.org/10.4314/tjpr.v25i7.3
© 2026 The authors.
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Purpose: To assess the effect of Malva sylvestris (MS) leaf extract incorporated in a hydrogel on vulvovaginal candidiasis. Methods: The plant leaves were extracted with water and characterized phytochemically. Carbopol 940 was employed as the gel base, triethanolamine as a gelling enhancer, and Nipagin (as preservative) was incorporated into ten hydrogel formulations. The prepared formulations were characterized for pH, viscosity, spreadability, and stability. The selected formula (F6) was selected for in vivo assessment of an experimental vulvovaginal candidiasis (VVC) model in three groups of mice, 6 mice each. VVC was induced by intravaginal inoculation, immunosuppressed, and estradiol cypionate was administered subcutaneously to induce the estrus phase. All animals were subsequently inoculated intravaginally. Vaginal load was measured after inoculation to confirm infection at 1, 3, and 6 days as log CFU/mL Results: The pH of the developed formulations ranged from 6.65 to 7.1, viscosities ranged from 6000 to 44,000 cP, and spreadability was 26-48 mm. Formulation F6 (Carbopol 940: polyethylene glycol 400 (PEG 400): propylene glycol: Nipagin M sodium: Nipasol M sodium in ratio 1.2: 10: 10: 0.2: 0.1) was selected due to its appropriate characteristics, as its pH was 6.65, spreadability was 46 mm, and its viscosity was 23000 centipoises. It was also assessed in vivo and proved significantly more effective compared to miconazole at inhibiting C. albicans (p < 0.05). Conclusion: Malva sylvestris incorporated into hydrogel with appropriate excipients demonstrated antifungal activity against vulvovaginal candidiasis with a good physicochemical profile.
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