Abstract

A COMPARATIVE STUDY OF EFFICACY OF NEEM SEED OIL, TERBINAFINE CREAM AND A COMBINATION OF BOTH TERBINAFINE CREAM AND NEEM SEED OIL APPLIED TOPICALLY IN THE TREATMENT OF CLINICAL DERMATOPHYTOSIS

Bala Sharmin S*, Chincholkar Aparna, Wagh Ranjit, Mutalik Madhav, Siddiqui Waseem, Gupta Manjeeta

ABSTRACT

Background: Dermatophytosis is the superficial parasitic infection of the skin, hair, and nails characterized by itching, scaling, erythema. Terbinafine hydrochloride is widely used in the treatment of dermatophytosis. Various side effects with available antifungal drugs and their rising costs emphasize the need for a novel, plant based drug for treatment of dermatophytosis. Many in vivo and in vitro animal studies have proved the efficacy of neem seed oil in the treatment of dermatophytosis. Aim: This study was undertaken to know the safety and efficacy of neem seed oil in clinically diagnosed dermatophytosis. Methods: Patients were randomly divided into three groups and were given terbinafine cream, neem seed oil or a combination of both. The patients were assessed clinically for a period of 6 weeks. Their skin scrapings were examined microbiologically. Results: The reduction in itching, scaling and erythema was similar in all the three groups at the end of 1 week, 2 weeks, 3 weeks, 4 weeks and 6 weeks. The size (small and big) and number of lesions distributed in each group was the same. The time taken to heal lesions in all the three groups was the same. Lesions in all the three groups were healed to the same extent. Conclusion: Neem seed oil is as effective as terbinafine cream in the treatment of dermatophytosis. There is no additive effect observed when neem seed oil is combined with terbinafine cream in the treatment of dermatophytosis.

Keywords: Dermatophytosis, terbinafine, neem seed oil.