AUGMENTATION OF AESTHETIC AND ANTISOLAR ATTRIBUTES OF A SUNSCREEN CREAM BY METHANOLIC EXTRACT OF RAKTCHANDAN (PTEROCARPUS SANTALINUS)

Abstract

“Raktachandan” or Pterocarpus santalinus was identified as indigenous to Eastern Ghats of India. This ethnopharmacological drug has been used since ages as a colouring material. It is mentioned in Charaka Samhita, which is a sacred treatise based on the Indian system of medicine, “Ayurveda”. The drug has been used to passify Pitta meaning thereby important digestive “agnis” or fires of the body. It is used as refrigerant and astringent. A paste of the powder is used as a cooling application in headache. More literature revealed its skin depigmentation activity. Based on the information available, an attempt was made to establish its sunprotective property. The present research study collected, analyzed phytochemically and further extracted the heartwood of the drug P. santalinus by three methods. This extract was checked for its antioxidant potential and used to colour zinc oxide, a physical sunscreen agent which gave an appearance like calamine. Transmittance properties of all three powders were studied. The purpose was to provide natural colorant for sunscreen cream, which itself has UV absorbing property. This coloured zinc oxide was formulated into a sunscreen cream and its SPF was determined. The highest yield was given by Soxhlet extract. The extract also exhibited significant antioxidant potential. The transmittance spectra of coloured zinc oxide were comparable to calamine. The coloured zinc oxide cream gave a higher SPF (17.2) than zinc oxide cream (15.9). Extract of P. santalinus when used in combination with inorganic sunscreen, provided synergistic combination and led to the enhancement of SPF