Abstract:
Background: Herbal cosmetics have gained considerable attention comparatively with
synthetic cosmetic products. Ocimum tenuiflorum is a well-known medicinal plant widely used
in Indian traditional medicinal and cosmeceutical preparations.
Objectives: To formulate novel herbal cream using O. tenuiflorum leaf extract and evaluate in
vitro antioxidant activity.
Methods: The crude extract of 70% aqueous acetone was prepared by steeping method and the
total phenolic, flavonoid contents of the extract were evaluated by using Folin-Ciocalteu assay
and aluminum chloride colorimetric method, respectively. In vitro antioxidant activity was
determined by 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) and ferric-reducing antioxidant power
activity (FRAP) assay. The herbal creams (F1-F4) were formulated by incorporating the freeze dried powder of the extract to the cream base and essential oils (Eucalyptus and Lavender)
followed by evaluation of in vitro antioxidant activity with compared to a commercial product.
The physical stability parameters (pH, odour, phase separation, appearance and colour) were
also tested at room temperature.
Results: The results of the total phenolic and flavonoid contents for the extract were 1973.8±2.9
mg Gallic acid equivalents (GAE)/ 100 g fresh weight (FW) of leaves and 1879.8±14.2 mg
Catechin equivalents (CAE)/ 100 g FW of leaves, respectively. Radical scavenging activity was
10.7±0.1 mmol Trolox equivalents/ 100 g FW of leaves and ferric reducing antioxidant power
was 25.3±0.2 mmol Fe(II) equivalents/ 100 g FW of leaves, respectively. There were no
remarkable changes in the physical parameters tested during the time observed. Among the
different formula tested, F4 was selected as the most stable formula with the highest antioxidant
activity measured by DPPH assay (6.8±0.1 mmol Fe(II) equivalents/ 100 g weight of cream)
and FRAP assay (3.4±0.1 mmol Fe(II) equivalents/ 100 g weight of cream).
Conclusions: The results revealed that O. tenuiflorum leaf extract tested was rich with
phenolics and flavonoids which would have contributed to reveal highest antioxidant activity of
the F4 cream formulation.
