Development of herbal face cream with potential radical scavenging activity using Cassia auriculata, Curcuma longa and Aloe barbadensis

Abstract

The aim of the present study was to formulate a herbal face cream with potential radical scavenging activity using Cassia auriculata (Ranawara) (flowers), Curcuma longa (Turmeric) (rhizomes) and Aloe barbadensis (Aloe vera) (leaf) extracts. Aqueous ethanol extracts (70%) of three plants were prepared by steeping method. Ranawara flower extract was subjected to preliminary phytochemical tests. The total phenolic, flavonoid contents and in vitro radical scavenging activity of Ranawara flower extract were evaluated by Folin-Ciocalteu assay, aluminium chloride colorimetric method and 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) assay respectively. An herbal face cream was formulated by using the freeze dried powders of plant extracts and evaluated for in vitro radical scavenging activity. The phytochemical screening of Ranawara flower extract revealed the presence of phenolic compounds, flavonoids, alkaloids, quinones, reducing sugars, starch, proteins, steroids and saponins and absence of resins. The total phenolic and flavonoid contents of the Ranawara flower extract (mean ± SD) were determined as 9121.778 ± 67.117 mg Gallic acid equivalent (GAE)/100 g dry weight (DW) of flowers and 3868.068 ± 652.961 mg Catechin equivalents (CAE)/100 g DW of flowers. Radical scavenging activity of the Ranawara flower extract was 8.266 ± 1.410 mmol Trolox equivalents/100 g DW of flowers. The results of the radical scavenging activity of formulated cream and commercial cream were determined as 10.595 ± 0.505 and 6.793 ± 0.133 mmol Trolox equivalents/100 g of cream. This cream was found to be homogenous, semi-solid and cream colour having pH 6 to 7. Physical stability parameters showed no remarkable variation during 12-week period. It is concluded that this herbal face cream has promising radical scavenging activity.