Vol. 7, Issue 2, Part A (2025)

Warts are benign epidermal proliferations caused by infection with the human papillomavirus (HPV), a double-stranded DNA virus that infects keratinized skin and mucous membranes. The infection leads to the abnormal growth of keratinocytes, resulting in the formation of hyperkeratotic, raised lesions on various parts of the body. The present study aimed to formulate and optimize a polyherbal nanoemulgel incorporating Thuja oil, Neem extract, and Green Tea extract for effective topical treatment of warts. Solubility studies identified suitable excipients, with medium-chain triglycerides (MCT), Tween 80, and Transcutol-P selected for oil, surfactant, and co-surfactant phases, respectively. Pseudoternary phase diagrams were constructed with varying Smix ratios, and the 2:1 ratio was selected based on emulsification efficiency. A Box-Behnken Design was employed to optimize formulation variables for vesicle size and entrapment efficiency. The optimized nanoemulsion (42.11% Thuja oil, 24.99% Smix, 40% water) showed favorable physicochemical properties, including droplet size (123.5 nm), zeta potential (-27.04 mV), and high entrapment efficiency (83.64%). This was incorporated into a Carbopol 940 gel base to obtain the nanoemulgel, which exhibited desirable pH (6.42), viscosity, drug content, and sustained drug release (82.64% at 12 hours). The results suggest that the developed polyherbal nanoemulgel is a promising, stable, and effective topical delivery system for managing HPV-induced warts.