Abstract
There were studied six variants of type suspension gels with 1.5% propiconazole nitrate, with various ointment bases: 4% hydroxypropyl cellulose (HPC-H), polyethylene glycol modified base and hydrated cetylic alcohol base, using as wetting agent and permeation enhancer glycerol as well as propylene glycol. The aim of this research is the physico-chemical characterization of gels: aspect, pH, homogeneity, rheological behaviour, viscosity and antifungal activity. The formulas based on HPC-H 4% have a plastic behaviour and an increased yield value; the formula sbased on modified PEG are rheopectic type, having a higher degree of thixotropy generated by propylene glycol. The formulae on hydrated cetylic alcohol base have a thixotrope behaviour (the formula including glycerol as wetting agent) and respectively thixotrope – antithixotrope behaviour (the formula including propylene glycol). The values of viscosity are higher in case of gel formulas having propylene glycol as wetting agent. Propiconazole nitrate has a good antifungal activity against clinical isolates of Candida spp., including strains resistant to other antifungal agents. All tested propiconazole nitrate gels have similar activity against Candida spp. Keywords: propiconazole nitate, gels, rheological behaviour, antifungal activity