<![CDATA[The utilization of natural materials as active pharmaceutical ingredients continues to develop, one of which is the use of Vernonia amygdalina Del. (African leaf) extract as an antimicrobial agent against Candida albicans, a fungus causing skin infections. This study aimed to determine the highest antimicrobial activity between the extract and its active fractions and to optimize a cream formulation using variations of stearic acid, triethanolamine (TEA), and adeps lanae through a factorial design method. Evaluation parameters included pH, viscosity, spreadability, Franz diffusion, and Minimum Bactericidal Concentration (MBC) values. The research was conducted experimentally using the disk diffusion method to determine the highest antimicrobial activity from extracts and fractions obtained using solvents of varying polarity. The extract or fraction with the highest activity was formulated into a cream, which was then tested for physical properties, penetration, and antimicrobial activity using the macrodilution method. The results showed that the African leaf extract exhibited the strongest antimicrobial activity, with an inhibition zone of 17.9 ± 2.33 mm against Candida albicans ATCC 10231. Variations in composition significantly affected pH, viscosity, spreadability, and Franz diffusion parameters. Based on the superimposed contour plot analysis, the optimal cream formulation consisted of 10 g stearic acid, 4 g TEA, and 4 g adeps lanae, achieving a cumulative Franz diffusion penetration of 12.53% and an MBC value of 25%.]]>
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