Formulation of Topical Polyherbal Emulgel from Essential Oils and Evaluation of its Antimicrobial Activities
Authors: NITHYA MURUGAN, SIVAKUMAR MARAPPAN, PERUMAL PERUMAL, SHANMUGAPRIYA MADHESWARAN, GOKULNATH KUMAR, VIGNESHWARAN SENTHILKUMAR, YOGESHWARAN NADESAN
Keywords: Polyherbal emulgel, Essential oils, Antimicrobial activity, Topical drug delivery, Skin infections
Abstract:
Introduction: Topical drug delivery provides a localized, safe, and patient-friendly approach for treating skin infections, addressing drawbacks such as first-pass metabolism and systemic toxicity. Emulgels, which integrate the advantages of emulsions and gels, enhance stability, spreadability, and patient acceptability. The incorporation of essential oils further strengthens their potential as natural antimicrobial agents. Aim and Objective: The study focused on formulating and evaluating polyherbal emulgels containing essential oils (lavender, cinnamon, and clove) to assess their antimicrobial efficacy against bacterial and fungal pathogens. Materials and Methodology: Six formulations (F1–F6) were developed using sodium alginate and sodium carboxymethyl cellulose in combination with Carbopol-940. All batches were evaluated for physicochemical properties, including colour, consistency, homogeneity, appearance, greasiness, washability, pH, spreadability, and viscosity. Antimicrobial activity was tested using the agar well diffusion method against Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae, and Candida albicans. Results: All formulations were stable, with pH values between 6.03 and 6.81, aligning with the skin’s physiological range. Carbopol-based batches showed superior spreadability and viscosity compared to alginate and CMC-based gels. Antimicrobial testing revealed that all formulations exhibited inhibitory activity, with formulation F5 demonstrating the greatest effectiveness, producing zones of inhibition of 35 ± 0.54 mm (S. aureus), 21 ± 0.34 mm (E. coli), 11 ± 0.26 mm (K. pneumoniae), and 16 ± 0.32 mm (C. albicans). Conclusion: The developed polyherbal emulgels containing essential oils displayed promising antimicrobial potential and acceptable physicochemical characteristics. Among them, formulation F5 showed the most favorable results, highlighting its potential.
