"Formulasi dan Evaluasi Sediaan Topikal Nanogel Mengandung Zinc Oxide Nanopartikel Ekstrak Air Kulit Buah Pinang Muda (Areca Catechu L.) dan Aktivitas sebagai Antimikroba"

Apriando Damanik (Universitas Prima Indonesia)
Vera Estafania Kaban (Universitas Prima Indonesia)
Astriani Natalia Br. Ginting (Universitas Prima Indonesia)

Jurnal Sains dan Teknologi
Vol. 5 No. 3 (2026): Juni 2026

Skin infections caused by Candida albicans require safe and effective natural alternative treatments. This study aims to formulate and evaluate a topical nanogel preparation containing Zinc Oxide Nanoparticles (ZnO-NP) and aqueous extract of young areca nut (Areca catechu L.) with extract concentrations of 2%, 4%, and 6%, using Carbopol 940 as the gel base. Particle size characterization using a Particle Size Analyzer (PSA) yielded results of F0 (40±2 nm), F1 (51±3.46 nm), F2 (46.6±2.88 nm), and F3 (34.6±1.15 nm), all within the nanogel range of 20–200 nm. Antifungal activity testing against Candida albicans using the well diffusion method on PDA medium yielded inhibition zones: 6% concentration (17.22 ± 0.29 mm), 4% (13.47 ± 0.31 mm), 2% (12.58 ± 0.69 mm), positive control ketoconazole (28.62 ± 0.52 mm), and negative control (0 mm). The formulation with a 6% extract concentration (F3) yielded the smallest particle size and the largest inhibition zone, equivalent to 60.17% efficacy compared to ketoconazole. In conclusion, the ZnO-NP-synthesized young areca nut peel extract nanogel has potential as an effective topical antimicrobial formulation with dose-dependent activity.