Development and evaluation of herbal cream for the treatment of acne

Abstract

Acne is a disease characterized by inflammatory and non inflammatory lesions. The pathogenesis includes various factors like hormonal, bacterial and immunological, which causes acne lesions. Propionibacterium acnes and Staphylococcus epidermidis have been recognized as pus-forming bacteria triggering an inflammation in acne. The present research work deals with formulation and evaluation of herbal cream against this etiologic agent of acne vulgaris. The boswellia oil was seperated and formulated into a topica ceram. In vitro antibacterial activity was performed against P. acnes, S. epidermidis and S. aureus, using agar well diffusion method. The measured zones of inhibitions of the prepared formulations were compared with standard antibiotic (Clindamycin) and standard marketed topical herbal formulation. The prepared creamss were evaluated for pH, viscosity, spreadability, stability, drug content and in vitro diffusion. The results from the agar well diffusion showed that boswellia oil herbal formulations would inhibit the growth of P. acnes, S. epidermidis and creams showed significance antimicrobial activity against these bacteria as compared to standard.