Purpose: To formulate a novel topical antibacterial gel containing Doxycycline Hyclate, Tea
tree oil, and Neem oil to evaluate their antibacterial activity. Methods: Formulation excipients
were selected using a Drug-excipients compatibility study. Prepared gel was subjected to
various evaluation parameters like pH, viscosity, spreadability, homogeneity, drug content
uniformity, in-vitro drug diffusion, and antibacterial activity. Results: Prepared topical
gel of doxycycline Hyclate was shown pH range of 5.3±0.010 to 6.7±0.015, viscosity
range of 386±28.70 to 680±50.40 cp, a spreadability range of 18.14±0.98 to 28.13±2.18
g.cm/s and homogeneous. The prepared gel was shown uniformity in drug content which
ranges from 94.41±0.61 to 97.44±0.69%, zone of inhibition ranges 13.66±1.69
to 32.00±1.63 mm for Staphylococcus aureus, 04.00±1.63 to 12.33±0.94 mm for
Pseudomonas aeruginosa and 11.66±0.94 to 33.33±1.24 mm for Propionibacterium
acne. Prepared gel formulations were shown a negligible amount of drug diffusion,
not more than 3.22±0.04% was shown the non-fiction type of diffusion through the
egg membrane. Conclusion: Formulation F8 was shown better antibacterial activity as
compared to its other formulations. As the concentration of neem oil and tea tree oil was
increased from 0.5 to 3% and 0.5 to 2% respectively in the gel, antibacterial activity
was synergistically improved against Staphylococcus aureous, Pseudomonas aeruginosa
, and Propionibacterium acne. The prepared gel formulation was found useful for topical
application due to its negligible diffusion, good spreadability, neutral pH, low viscosity, and no irritation on human skin.