Paronychia Treatment: Formulation and Evaluation of Polyherbal Cream
Authors: Vishnu Bhise Vishal , R Kale Vidya 
Published: June 2024

A perionychium abscess or localized superficial infection is called a paronychia. Swollen, erythematous, and Tender nail folds are its defining features. They mostly fall into two categories: Acute and chronic. The majority of people having acute paronychia Caused by their biting nails. A soft tissue infection surrounding a fingernail is called paronychia. Specifically, it is an initial cellulitis-like superficial infection of the epithelium lateral to the nail plate that might develop into a clear abscess. Acute and chronic paronychia are two distinct conditions that are frequently treated differently and have different etiologist, infectious agents, and courses of therapy. There are two kinds of paronychia: 1. Acute paronychia Staphylococci are usually the source of this painful and purulent ailment; fungal infections are often the cause of chronic paronychia. Although mixed aerobic and anaerobic flora are usually present, staphylococci are the most prevalent cause of the painful, purulent an acute condition. A straightforward drainage operation significantly improves the patient's health and level of discomfort. Chronic paronychial infections are usually fungal, rather than bacterial, in nature. The main microbe that causes illness is Staphylococcus aureus, or S. aureus. Acute paronychia can also be caused by pseudomonas and anaerobes. Chronic paronychia is a persistent type of conditions that primarily affects those who have been clinically exposed to alkali, water, etc. Chronic paronychia originates mainly from Candida albicans (C. albicans). Chronic paronychia can also be caused by other infections, such as gram-negative rods, gram-negative cocci, and atypical mycobacteria. Topical therapy, oral medication, surgical avulsion, laser treatment, and additional approaches are now available for treatment. This research article covers the perionychium's anatomy, paronychia's categorization, preventative strategies, paronychia's current treatment options and new polyherbal formulation for their treatment. Of these illnesses, 35% are caused by paronychia, which is the most frequent hand infection in the US. With a 3:1 female to male ratio, the infection is more frequent in women than in males. Aim: This study aimed to develop and assess the efficacy, safety, and stability of an herbal cream formulated for the treatment of paronychia. Objective: The objective of this study was to develop a polyherbal cream for the treatment of parenchyma disorders. Purpose: The purpose of this research was to formulate and evaluate a polyherbal cream with selected herbs known for their pharmacological properties targeting parenchymal tissues. Result: The cream was formulated using selected herbal extracts known for their antimicrobial activity. Evaluation of efficacy to determine antimicrobial activity against common pathogens causing paronychia. Safety assessments included skin irritation tests, allergic reaction assessments, and microbiological analyses to ensure the cream's safety profile. Stability studies were conducted under various storage conditions to assess the cream's shelf-life and efficacy over time. Results demonstrated significant antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory properties of the herbal cream, with no observed adverse effects in safety evaluations. Stability studies indicated satisfactory shelf-life under recommended storage conditions. This herbal cream shows promise as a safe and effective alternative for the treatment of paronychia, warranting further clinical trials for validation.