Preparation and Evaluation of Herbal Cream Formulated from Calotropis gigantea Leaves

Abstract

The present study aimed to formulate and evaluate a topical herbal cream using the leaf extract of Calotropis gigantea. Medicinal plants serve as an important source of bioactive compounds with significant therapeutic potential. Calotropis gigantea, widely used in traditional medicine, possesses antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, and wound-healing properties. Fresh leaves were collected, authenticated, shade dried, pulverized, and subjected to Maceration extraction using propylene glycol. Preliminary phytochemical screening confirmed the presence of alkaloids, flavonoids, tannins, glycosides, saponins, and terpenoids. An oil-in-water (O/W) emulsion-based cream was formulated using suitable excipients. Four trial formulations (F1C–F4C) were prepared and evaluated for physicochemical properties including organoleptic characteristics, pH, spreadability, washability, phase separation, and skin irritation. The prepared formulations showed smooth texture, faint yellow color, pleasant odor, and semi-solid consistency. No irritation, erythema, edema, or phase separation was observed. Spreadability values indicated good applicability. The optimized formulation exhibited acceptable pH suitable for skin application. The study confirms the feasibility of developing a stable and safe herbal topical preparation using Calotropis gigantea leaf extract with potential therapeutic applications.