Formulation & Evaluation of Curcuminoid Based Herbal Face Cream

Abstract

Formulation of herbal cosmeceutical in the form of a face cream has been done. Curcuminoids from Curcuma domestica Val. (turmeric) has been incorporated in the formulation. Pharmacognostical standardization of turmeric has been done as per Indian Herbal Pharmacopoeia [IHP]-2002 to ensure the genuinity of the crude turmeric rhizomes. It includes taxonomical authentication, morphological characterization, powdered drug microscopy, identification tests of turmeric powder and quantitative standards - that are foreign organic matter(0.43%), alcoholic soluble extractive (7.36%), water soluble extractive (20.32%), total ash(8.46%), acid insoluble ash (0.76%) and loss on drying (12.52%). All the quantitative standard values are in compliance with IHP-2002. Turmeric rhizome powder has been extracted with methanol and curcumin content in the methanolic extract has been quantified spectrophotometrically. It has yielded 3.79 g of curcumin per 100 g of turmeric rhizome powder. Stearic acid cream base has been used to incorporate standardized methanolic extract in isopropyl alcohol, triethanolamine, almond oil, light liquid paraffin oil, moisturizer conditioner and cetyl alcohol. Evaluation of formulated cream with parameters - type of emulsion, ashing at 600 o C, pH, homogeneity and sensory parameters has been conducted. Accelerated stability testing of 16 prepared formulations has been conducted at elevated temperature of 40 o C ± 1 o C for 20 days. 4 out of 16 products have shown stability with no signs of bleeding and no change in the color of the product. The Draize test for sensitivity testing has shown that the stable formulations are safe in respect to skin irritation and allergic sensitization. © 2011 IGJPS. All rights reserved