title: Development of photochemoprotective herbs containing cosmetic formulations for improving skin properties.
abstract: Botanical photochemoprotectives are used because they act on various stages to prevent skin cancer and photoaging. The aim of this study was to prepare herbal creams from various photochemoprotective herbs and to perform efficacy studies on them by using physicochemical, microbiological, safety, psychometric, biophysical, and sun protection factor measurements. Herbal creams were prepared by incorporating hydroalcoholic extracts of Curcuma caesia (rhizome), Areca catechu (seeds), Centella asiatica (leaves) Cinnamon zeylanicum (dried bark), and Tamarindus indica (fruit pulp) in varied concentrations (1-5% w/w) in a base cream. The efficacy of all formulations was checked out for four weeks on 60 normal subjects on the volar forearm for evaluation of biophysical properties, and for psychometric evaluations (fragrance, lathery feel, softness, irritation, stickiness, smoothness, and aftereffect on the skin) and safety measurements. In the biophysical characterization, a cutometer for viscoelasticity, a mexameter for melanin content, a corneometer for hydration, and a sebumeter for sebum determination were used. All the cream formulations with 1% and 3% w/w extracts showed positive results and passed physicochemical, microbiological, and safety tests. The SPF values increased as the concentration of extract was increased up to a limit in the formulations. The SPF values were significantly higher (p < 0.01) in formulations with 3% herbal extract than with 1% herbal extract. Increased skin hydration, sebum levels, viscoelasticity, and decreased melanin values were obtained. The Cinnamon, Centella, and Tamarindus formulations were found more effective as photoprotectives than the Areca and Curcuma formulations.
authors.affiliation: University Institute of Pharmacy, Pt. Ravishankar Shukla University, Raipur (C.G.), India 492010. swarnlata_saraf@rediffmail.com
authors.forename: Swarnlata
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Saraf
authors.forename: Sumit Kour
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: Chhabra
authors.forename: Chanchal Deep
authors.initials: CD
authors.lastname: Kaur
authors.forename: Shailendra
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Saraf
mesh_terms: D003358:Cosmetics / Q000737:chemistry*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D012867:Skin / Q000187:drug effects; D012879:Skin Physiological Phenomena / Q000187:drug effects*; D013473:Sunscreening Agents / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D003358:Cosmetics; D010936:Plant Extracts; D013473:Sunscreening Agents