FORMULATION AND STABILITY EVALUATION OF CREAM CONTAINING CHROMOLAENA ODORATA AND CENTELLA ASIATICA LEAF EXTRACTS

Chromolaena odorata was extracted by ethanol/water. Centella asiatica was extracted by methanol. A cream containing C. odorata and C. asiatica extracts was formulated and evaluated for its physicochemical properties and stability. C. odorata and C. asiatica were extracted and their respective active compounds scutellarein tetramethyl ether and asiaticoside were determined as bioactive compounds using HPLC. Creams were prepared using 5% C. odorata and 1% C. asiatica extracts and tested for their appearance, pH, and viscosity. Stability was evaluated under accelerated conditions using six hot/cold cycles and after long-term storage at 30 °C/75% RH for 3 months. The content of scutellarein tetramethyl ether in C. odorata extract was 0.13 ± 0.02% w/w and the content of asiaticoside in the C. asiatica extract was 0.35 ± 0.04% w/w. Contents of scutellarein tetramethyl ether and asiaticoside in the cream formulation were 98.25 ± 0.43% and 102.16 ± 0.22%, respectively. The cream formulations containing the extracts had a good appearance and were non-greasy and easily applied, with a pH value of 5.4 ± 0.1 and viscosity of 1604 ± 257 poises determined at shear rate 0.08 s^-1. No changes in physical and chemical properties occurred during storage. These findings indicate that this formulation of 5% C. odorata and 1% C. asiatica extract is stable and suitable for further testing as a topically applied product.