Poly-herbal hydrogel formulation for topical skin infection: Formulation development and characterization

Skin infections are very common in certain season and may require long treatment in certain cases such as fungal infections. Various pathogens, such as bacteria, fungi, viruses, can leads to skin infections. The severity and source of the infection determine the course of treatment. The main objective of this study was to formulation development and evaluation of polyherbal hydrogel formulation for topical skin infection. clove oil, Aloe Vera extract & Carica papaya leaf extract were used as herbal ingredients. Carbopol 934 and Polyethylene glycol were selected for hydrogel base. Formulations were prepared by using different compositions of polymer and herbal constituents. Formulations were evaluated for viscosity, consistency, pH, and compatibility. Antibacterial study was performed for the final selected hydrogel and compared with standard antibiotic, tetracycline. A 2% w/v Carbopol 934 containing clove oil (2.5ml), Aloe Vera gel (2.5ml) & Carica papaya (1gm) was the optimized hydrogel and was reported to have viscosity of 1,908 cp & pH 6.02 with appropriate consistency for its application on skin. All the components of the herbal gel were found to be compatible as Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR) spectrum showed peaks for each ingredient. The antibacterial effectivity was found to be better than tetracycline against Pseudomonas species and should affect against Klebsiella species & Enterobacteracae species. Therefore, the polyherbal herbal hydrogel loaded with clove oil, Aloe Vera and carica papaya leaf extract is a promising candidate for clinical applications in dermatology, offering a natural alternative for skin infection treatment with enhanced therapeutic efficacy.