DEVELOPMENT, OPTIMIZATION AND EVALUATION OF HERBAL GEL FORMULATION

Acne vulgaris is one of the most common chronic inflammatory skin diseases affecting more than 85% of adolescents worldwide. Quercetin, curcuminoids, and berberine HCl have anti-acne, anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, and antioxidant characteristics. This study aimed to develop, optimize and evaluate herbal gel containing quercetin, curcuminoids, and berberine HCl. A preliminary trial was conducted for the screening of polymers. A 3² full factorial design was applied to investigate the combined effect of the two independent variables, i.e., the concentration of carbopol 934 and the concentration of propylene glycol, on the dependent variables viscosity and cumulative percent drug release at 8 hrs. The optimized formulation (D0) shows a viscosity of 78123.67±0.69 cps, cumulative percent drug release of quercetin 85.99±1.03%, berberine HCl 35.38± 0.45% and curcuminoids 70.28± 1.18%. An FTIR investigation of drug excipient compatibility revealed no interactions between drugs and excipients. Based on all parameters and experimental design evaluations, it was determined that viscosity increased with increasing carbopol 934 and propylene glycol concentrations; cumulative percent drug release decreased with increasing carbopol 934 concentrations and increased with increasing propylene glycol concentrations.