DEVELOPMENT AND EVALUATION OF A HERBAL COSMETIC CREAM FROM THE STANDARDIZED EXTRACT OF OCIMUM BASILICUM LEAVES

Objective: The present study aimed to develop and evaluate herbal cosmetic cream by incorporating standardized Ocimum basilicum leaf extracts to exert its anti-oxidant potential as anti-wrinkle properties. Methodology: The hydro-alcoholic and aqueous extracts were prepared and standardized through high-performance thin-layer chromatography studies using the mobile phase ethyl acetate – acetic acid- formic acid- water (100:11:11:26 v/v/v/v) along with the standard rutin. Then, the anti-oxidant potential of the extracts were analysed through in-vitro DPPH free radical scavenging assay. Further, the formulations were developed using hydro-alcoholic and aqueous extracts (F₁ to F₆). The formulations were analysed for stability, physical characterization, HPTLC studies and anti-bacterial properties. Results: The studies resulted the spot at Rf 0.40 and the calibration showed the linear relationship with the r² value 0.99716 in the concentration ranging from (400-1500) ng per spot. The anti-oxidant activity resulted in a percentage inhibition of 84.62% for hydro-alcoholic extract and 71.23% for aqueous extract, comparable with the standard ascorbic acid, which was 94.02%. The cream was characterized by its bloom strength, extrusion, firmness and spreadability. The HPTLC studies of the formulation revealed that the quantity of rutin present was found to be 0.041±0.002 ng/gm. The formulation was shown to have activity against both gram-positive and gram negative bacteria. Hence, the developed formulation can be further subjected to in-vivo analysis to explore Ocimum basilicum as a novel formulation in the market.