Development, Standardization, and Evaluation of a Polyherbal Topical Ointment Incorporating Tea Tree and Rosemary Extracts
TL;DR
The developed polyherbal ointments were stable, skin-compatible, and rich in bioactive constituents, indicating their potential as effective and safe natural topical formulations.
Abstract
: The present study focused on the development and evaluation of a polyherbal ointment formulated using extracts of Melaleuca alternifolia (Tea Tree) and Rosmarinus officinalis (Rosemary) for topical application. The plant materials were collected, authenticated, shade-dried, and subjected to Soxhlet extraction using suitable solvents. Physicochemical standardization parameters, including ash values, moisture content, extractive values, and pH, confirmed the purity and quality of the crude drugs within acceptable limits. Preliminary phytochemical screening revealed the presence of flavonoids, phenolics, tannins, steroids, and triterpenoids in both extracts, while saponins were detected in rosemary. Five ointment bases were prepared and evaluated for color, odor, consistency, pH, and viscosity, from which three optimized bases were selected for further formulation. The final herbal ointments (HFB-1, HFB-2, and HFB-3) were assessed for physicochemical properties including pH, viscosity, moisture content, spreadability, and extrudability, all of which were found to be within acceptable ranges for dermal use. Among the formulations, HFB-3 demonstrated a balanced profile of consistency, spreadability, and stability, while HFB-2 showed superior extrudability. Overall, the developed polyherbal ointments were stable, skin-compatible, and rich in bioactive constituents, indicating their potential as effective and safe natural topical formulations.