Formulation and Evaluation of Herbal Sunscreen by Lemon Grass Oil Extract

The present study focused on the formulation and evaluation of a herbal sunscreen emulgel incorporating lemongrass (Cymbopogon citratus) oil extract as the principal active ingredient. The extract was obtained through methanolic extraction and subjected to preliminary phytochemical analysis, which confirmed the presence of bioactive constituents such as volatile oils, glycosides, and steroids. These compounds are known to contribute to antioxidant and photoprotective activities.The emulgel formulations were prepared using Carbopol 934 as the gelling agent and evaluated for various physicochemical and functional parameters, including pH, spreadability, extrudability, viscosity, and sun protection factor (SPF). All formulations demonstrated good homogeneity, stability, and maintained pH values within the skin-compatible range (6.25–6.70). Among the developed formulations, F3 exhibited superior physical properties and achieved an SPF value of 4.01, indicating moderate protection against ultraviolet (UV) radiation.The findings indicate that lemongrass oil can be effectively utilized as a natural, safe, and environmentally sustainable photoprotective agent, providing a viable alternative to synthetic sunscreens in topical cosmetic formulations.