Assessment of the Quality and Evaluation of the Antioxidant Potential of a Novel Sri Lankan Ayurvedic Polyherbal Formulation

Encapsulation of Leptadenia pyrotechnica (Khip) Extract in Carbomer Based Emulgel for Its Enhanced Antioxidant Effects and Its In Vitro Evaluation

BACKGROUND

The use of natural products in skin care has been valued for their tremendous therapeutic benefits since ancient times. The current study was aimed at exploring the Leptadenia pyrotechnica plant extract and development of a stable emulgel loaded with the same extract to assess its cosmeceutical potentials.

METHODOLOGY

A stable emulgel loaded with methanolic plant extract along with its control gel was prepared by homogenization. The antioxidant potential of extracts prepared in different solvents (methanol MLP, ethanol ELP, n-hexane nLP, ethyl acetate EALP, and petroleum ether PLP) was determined by DPPH scavenging activity. The presence of phytochemicals was confirmed by total phenolic and flavonoid content analysis (TPC/TFC). HPLC was used for quantification of bioactive components. FTIR analysis was performed for confirmation of functional groups. SPF was calculated via spectroscopic analysis for extract, control gel, and extract loaded emulgel. Stability studies included physical evaluation, pH, conductivity, spreadability, and rheological testing of both control and test emulgels at different temperatures, i.e., 8 °C ± 1, 25 °C ± 1, 40 °C ± 1, 40 °C ± 1 with RH of 75% for a period of 90 days.

RESULTS

DPPH radical scavenging activity showed the highest antioxidant activity of 85.5% ± 2.78 for MLP. TPC and TFC were also found to be highest for the methanolic fraction, i.e., 190.98 ± 0.40 mgGAE/g and 128.28 ± 2.64 mgQE/g, respectively. The SPF of methanolic extract, placebo gel, and LPEG was 13.43 ± 0.46, 2.37 ± 0.33, and 7.28 ± 0.56, respectively. HPLC assay confirmed the presence of catechin, vanillic acid, caffeic acid, and sinapinic acid. Rheological analysis showed that formulation has pseudo-plastic flow behavior. Other stability tests also revealed that prepared emulgel is a stable one.

CONCLUSION

A stable emulgel loaded with Leptadenia pyrotechnica plant extract was successfully prepared and characterized for its cosmetic effects.

A 90-Day Oral Toxicity Study of an Ethanolic Root Extract of Caesalpinia bonduc (L.) Roxb. in Wistar Rats

Background

Plant medicine is the oldest form of health care known to mankind; hence, studies on their safety for use are essential for the control of adverse drug effects. In Benin, Caesalpinia bonduc is one of many medicinal plants used as aphrodisiac, and for treatment of various ailments including prostatic hyperplasia. Despite its numerous ethnomedicinal benefits, toxicological information associated with its chronic use is currently limited.

Objective

The present study therefore assessed the toxicity of an ethanolic root extract of Caesalpinia bonduc in Wistar rats.

Methods

Caesalpinia bonduc root extract was administered by oral gavage at doses of 31.25, 125, and 500 mg/kg/day for 90 days to male Wistar rats, after which body weight changes, food consumption, urinary parameters, hematological and blood biochemical parameters, organ weights changes, gross pathology, and histopathology of vital organs were assessed.

Results

There were no death or abnormal clinical signs, no significant changes in body weight gain or urinary parameters, and no changes in necropsy and histopathology findings of vital organs associated with extract treatment. However, some indices such as erythrocytes, total cholesterol, and aspartate amino transferase increased in rats treated with high doses of the extract, as well as relative weight of testes, followed by a decrease in food intake and prostate relative weight.

Conclusion

The results indicate that an ethanolic root extract of Caesalpinia bonduc does not cause significant adverse effects and suggest its tolerability up to 500 mg/kg for daily administration of 90 days.