Virgin Coconut Oil Emulgel: Effect of VCO and Carbopol 940 Concentration on Characterization and Antibacterial Activity

Abstract

Virgin coconut oil (VCO) is mostly produced from Cocos nucifera L. Kopyor coconut from Cocos nucifera L.is a coconut that has fruit flesh apart from its shell with mainly consist of lauric acid, vitamin C and α-tocopherol as antioxidants. Kopyor coconut has high lauric acid content in the flesh or VCO and has been found effective against Propionibacterium acnes bacteria. To increase its acceptability as anti-acne or skin diseases, VCO of kopyor coconut was formulated into emulgel. VCO concentration as the active agent was used of 20% and 30%. A selected gelling agent was Carbopol 940 at concentration of 1% and 2%. The emulgel then evaluated for physical characterization such as viscosity, pH, spreadability, particle size, particle size distribution, and zeta potential. The emulgel was also tested for antibacterial activity against Propionibacterium acnes and stability tests using thermal cycling method. The selected formula was formula 4 that had good zeta potential, suitable with skin pH, had a good particle size and distribution and was effective against Propionibacterium acnes bacteria.