Development and Evaluation of a Herbal Formulation for Photoprotective Activity

Abstract

Due to depletion of ozone layer and more penetration of the UV rays there is an increase in the cases of skin cancer, cataract, hyperpigmentation , so the formulation would be evaluated for its photo-protective activity against the UV rays. Liquorice and pomegranate were selected based on fact that phenolics and flavonoids are mainly responsible for anti-oxidant activity which in turn provides photo-protection and these drugs contain phenolics and flavonoids in abundance. Total phenolic content was found higher in hydro-alcoholic extract in pomegranate peel around 0.108%.Total flavonoid content was found higher in methanolic extract in liquorice around 0.046%.IC50 value of pomegranate peel methanolic extract was 64.5 μg/ml, so it showed good anti-oxidant potential. IC50 value of liquorice hydro-alcoholic extract was 53.7 μg/ml, so hydro-alcoholic extract showed good anti-oxidant potential. Methanolic extract showed good photo-protective activity with SPF of 12.2 as compared to combined Hydroalcoholic extract with SPF of 8.5, so methanolic extracts were selected for incorporation in formulation. It came out that by increasing the concentration of extract from 2% to 8%, the SPF value increased and it acme close to the combined methanolic extracts of liquorice and pomegranate peel SPF value. This formulation was made using the F3 formula, which showed good physical characteristics and so it was concluded as best formula of all the three. Thus, it can be concluded that by combining both liquorice root and pomegranate peel methanolic extracts, in a formulation, the formulation showed good photo protective activity.