Abstract

The objective of the present study was to extract mucilage from okra and evaluate it as a gelling agent in the vaginal gel. The okra mucilage was extracted following the established methods. The percentage yield of okra mucilage was found to be 8.0 % w/w. The Fluconazole antifungal vaginal gel was formulated using the okra mucilage as gelling agent and evaluated for compatibility study, viscosity, pH, spreadability and diffusion study. The effect of the mucilage as the gelling agent was compared with the commonly used synthetic polymers such as carbopol 940 and hydroxypropyl methyl cellulose at the concentration of 0.5 %, 1 % and 1.5 % w/w. The result of the study showed that the okra mucilage was comparable to polymer carbopol 940 and hydroxypropyl methyl cellulose K4M as gelling agent. Thus, okra mucilage (1.5 %) has the potential for being substituted as gelling agent in place of conventional gelling agent.