Development and in vitro evaluation of griseofulvin cream formulations for the treatment of Tinea pedis

Background: Tinea pedis, commonly known as athlete’s foot, is a widespread fungal infection of the feet affecting children and adults across Africa, including Tanzania. Traditionally, oral griseofulvin tablets have been the mainstay of treatment. However, oral administration is often associated with systemic side effects, particularly in children. There is a growing need for localized, safer, and more tolerable treatment alternatives. Developing a topical formulation of griseofulvin offers a promising approach to directly target the infection site while minimizing systemic exposure and associated adverse effects.
Objective: To formulate and evaluate a topical griseofulvin cream as a safer and more effective alternative to oral administration for treating Tinea pedis.
Methodology: Four griseofulvin cream formulations were developed Using standard pharmaceutical excipients (F1, F2, F3, and F4). The formulations underwent comprehensive in vitro evaluation, including Viscometry, frequency sweep, three-step shear rate tests, and creep and recovery analysis, which were conducted to assess the flow behavior and consistency of the creams.
Accelerated stability testing was performed over 90 days at 40°C ± 5°C and 75% ± 5% relative humidity. The formulations were evaluated for physical stability and active ingredient assay.
F3 was tested against Trichophyton rubrum to determine antifungal efficacy. Skin tolerance was assessed by scoring erythema and oedema responses
Results: Formulations F1, F2, and F3 demonstrated favourable rheological properties, with F3 exhibiting the most consistent and desirable flow characteristics. F4 showed suboptimal behavior and was excluded from further consideration.
All formulations remained stable over 90 days, with minor assay variations (100.62% on day 0 to 99.68% on day 90), indicating excellent formulation stability.  F3 showed strong antifungal activity, producing a 37.7 mm zone of inhibition against Trichophyton rubrum. The irritation potential of F3 was minimal, with average oedema and erythema scores of 1.17, indicating good skin compatibility.
Conclusion: The study successfully developed a stable and effective griseofulvin topical cream. F3 emerged as the most promising candidate among the formulations due to its superior rheological properties, potent antifungal activity, and excellent skin tolerance. This topical cream offers a safer alternative to oral griseofulvin for treating Tinea pedis, particularly among school-aged children.