title: Evaluation of Ubtan - A traditional indian skin care formulation.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  'Ubtan' is a traditional herbal formulation in the Indian system of medicine being used in India and its subcontinent for a long time. Several commercial skin care formulations are marketed throughout this region as the name of Ubtan. Therefore, it is worthwhile to evaluate Ubtan in respect of its efficacy as skin care formulation.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The present study was designed for the preparation of Ubtan and standardization through the chromatographic techniques by using suitable phyto-markers. Further, its antioxidant, sun protection factor (SPF) and anti-tyrosinase potential have been explored.
  
  
  METHODS
  Four in-house formulations (UF-1, UF-2, UF-3 and UF-4) were prepared by mixing a varied quantity of each powdered plants, i.e. turmeric (Curcuma longa L.), Chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) and sandalwood (Santalum album L.). Optimization of the formulations was made by evaluating its biological activity through in vitro assay. Evaluation of physicochemical properties of the optimized formulation (UF-1) has been carried out by analysis of pH, flow properties and stability. Moreover, RP-HPLC (reverse phase - high performance liquid chromatography) and HPTLC (high performance thin layer chromatography) standardization of UF-1 was performed for its quantitative and qualitative analysis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Ubtan formulations (UF-1to UF-4) showed free radical scavenging and ferric reducing potential. It may be due to its high phenolic and flavonoid content. Statistically, significant Pearson's correlation (r) was confirmed the positive correlation between phenolic content and SPF of the formulations. The tyrosinase inhibition study indicated that the formulations showed both diphenolase and monophenolase inhibitory activity. Among four formulations, UF-1 showed notable biological activity (p<0.05). The content of curcumin and ascorbic acid was found to be 1.6% and 2.1% w/w respectively in UF-1 through RP-HPLC estimation. Physiochemical properties of the UF-1 exhibited good flow rate and aqueous solubility. From the stability studies, it can be anticipated that the UF-1 was stable at 40°C for longer periods. Microbial load count and heavy metal content (lead-Pb, arsenic-As, mercury-Hg and cadmium-Cd) of the formulation was also within the permissible limit of a pharmacopeial standard.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This scientific exploration helps to set the quality and safety standard of traditional cosmetic formulation, Ubtan and its further use as an herbal skin care product.
authors.affiliation: School of Natural Product Studies, Department of Pharmaceutical Technology, Jadavpur University, Kolkata 700 032, India. Electronic address: rajarshi_mpharm@rediff.com.
authors.forename: Rajarshi
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Biswas
authors.affiliation: School of Natural Product Studies, Department of Pharmaceutical Technology, Jadavpur University, Kolkata 700 032, India. Electronic address: naturalproductm@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Pulok K
authors.initials: PK
authors.lastname: Mukherjee
authors.affiliation: School of Natural Product Studies, Department of Pharmaceutical Technology, Jadavpur University, Kolkata 700 032, India. Electronic address: amit.kar2@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Amit
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kar
authors.affiliation: School of Natural Product Studies, Department of Pharmaceutical Technology, Jadavpur University, Kolkata 700 032, India. Electronic address: shiv.pharma17@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Shiv
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Bahadur
authors.affiliation: School of Natural Product Studies, Department of Pharmaceutical Technology, Jadavpur University, Kolkata 700 032, India. Electronic address: harwanshranjeet@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Ranjit K
authors.initials: RK
authors.lastname: Harwansh
authors.affiliation: School of Natural Product Studies, Department of Pharmaceutical Technology, Jadavpur University, Kolkata 700 032, India. Electronic address: sayanb0@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Sayan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Biswas
authors.affiliation: Department of Botany and Microbiology, Addiriyah Chair for Environmental Studies, College of Science, King Saud University, Riyadh 11451, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Electronic address: alharbinaif@hotmail.com.
authors.forename: Naif Abdullah
authors.initials: NA
authors.lastname: Al-Dhabi
authors.affiliation: Department of Botany and Microbiology, Addiriyah Chair for Environmental Studies, College of Science, King Saud University, Riyadh 11451, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Electronic address: avdpandiyan@yahoo.co.in.
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Duraipandiyan
mesh_terms: D000975:Antioxidants / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000592:standards; D001205:Ascorbic Acid / Q000494:pharmacology; D058491:Bacterial Load; D001713:Biphenyl Compounds / Q000737:chemistry; D002851:Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; D056148:Chromatography, Reverse-Phase; D002855:Chromatography, Thin Layer; D029863:Cicer / Q000737:chemistry; D003257:Consumer Product Safety; D030024:Curcuma / Q000737:chemistry; D003474:Curcumin / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology; D003879:Dermatologic Agents / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000592:standards; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004339:Drug Compounding; D004340:Drug Contamination; D004355:Drug Stability; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000592:standards; D005292:Ferricyanides / Q000737:chemistry; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D007194:India; D008519:Medicine, Traditional; D019216:Metals, Heavy / Q000032:analysis; D014442:Monophenol Monooxygenase / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors*; D010084:Oxidation-Reduction; D008517:Phytotherapy; D010851:Picrates / Q000737:chemistry; D028321:Plant Preparations / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000592:standards; D010946:Plants, Medicinal; D011208:Powders; D011786:Quality Control; D012212:Rheology; D018570:Risk Assessment; D032123:Santalum / Q000737:chemistry; D017592:Skin Care / Q000379:methods* / Q000592:standards; D012995:Solubility; D013054:Spectrophotometry, Atomic; D013056:Spectrophotometry, Ultraviolet; D013473:Sunscreening Agents / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000592:standards
chemical_list: D000975:Antioxidants; D001713:Biphenyl Compounds; D003879:Dermatologic Agents; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors; D005292:Ferricyanides; D019216:Metals, Heavy; D010851:Picrates; D028321:Plant Preparations; D011208:Powders; D013473:Sunscreening Agents; C000617395:ubtan compound; C007931:hexacyanoferrate III; C004931:1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl; D014442:Monophenol Monooxygenase; D003474:Curcumin; D001205:Ascorbic Acid
keywords: Curcumin; Heavy metal content; Stability study; Tyrosinase; Ubtan