Abstract

FORMULATION, DEVELOPMENT AND EVALUATION OF POLYHERBAL GEL FOR EFFECTIVE TREATMENT OF ACNE

Chetan Rathore, Naveen Gupta*, Vishal Kapoor, Dr. Neeraj Sharma, Dharmendra S. Rajput

Patel College of Pharmacy, Bhopal (M.P.)

ABSTRACT

Herb is a plant or part of a plant valued for its medicinal, aromatic, or savoury qualities. Herbs can be viewed as biosynthetic chemical laboratories, producing a number of chemical compounds. Herbal remedies or medicines consist of portions of plants or unpurified plant extracts containing several constituents, which often work together synergistically. Herbal formulations have more demanded in the market. One of the most common disorders found among youngsters usually 18-25 years of age is Acne. Acne vulgaris, which is a skin disorder of the pilosebaceous gland leads to the formation of inflammatory lesions, seborrhea, comedone etc. The pus being formed in acne which triggers inflammation is due to Propionibacterium acnes. There is a remarkable demand of herbal formulations in the global market. Propionibacterium acnes are common pus-forming microbes responsible for the development of various forms of acne. In the present study anti-acne gels were prepared using polymer carbopol 940 along with the hydroalcoholic extracts of plants Seeds of Embelia ribes and Piper nigrum and evaluated for their physicochemical properties, like pH, washability, extrudability, spreadability and viscosity. The formulations (PHG1-PHG6) were tested for the anti-acne activity by well diffusion method against Propionibacterium acnes. Results showed that the gels were non-irritant, stable and possess anti-acne activity. The efficacy when tested with a standard was almost same to that of Clintop (Marketed gel). This suggests that Seeds of Embelia ribes and Piper nigrum has potential against acne causing bacteria and hence they can be used in topical anti-acne preparations and may address the antibiotic resistance of the bacteria.

Keywords: Acne vulgaris, Propionibacterium acnes, Embelia ribes, Piper nigrum, Carbopol, Physicochemical properties.