Abstract

PREPARATION AND EVALUATION OF CORDIA MYXA FRUIT TOPICAL CREAM

Masoud A. Karami*, Eskandar Moghimipour, Sayyed Farivar Saafi

Abstract

Background: Use of medicinal plants is an important part of traditional medicine. One of these plants which is anciently used for its benefit properties in Iran and some other countries, is Cordia myxa. Because of its mucilage content, the plant fruits have been used as expectorant and emollient in treatment of cough and some respiratory problems. Based on some reports about its anti-inflammatory effect, it was aimed to prepare a topical formulation, preferably cream, and evaluate its physicochemical properties. Objectives: The aim of this study was to prepare topical cream containing Cordia myxa fruits using different bases and emulsifiers and evaluate them at in-vitro condition to achieve the best formulation. Materials and Methods: The fruits were provided from market, washed and extracted by distilled water. 8 formulations containing 5% of aqueous extract of Cordia myxa fruits and different amounts of lipids and surfactants were prepared by fusion method. Some physicochemical properties of formulations such as pH, consistency, viscosity, and physical stability, were evaluated. Antimicrobial challenge test against Pseudomonas aeruginosa was also carried out. Results: All of the formulations were homogeneous with an odor and color related to Cordia extract, showed a proper consistency, a pH average of 7.175 and average of 9010 cps for viscosity. They were physically stable and there was no coalescence or creaming after 1, 3, and 6 months of storage. No sedimentation and phase separation were observed after centrifugation at 2000 rpm and no microbial growth was seen after the period of storage. Conclusions: Regarding increasing public interest to herbal medicine applications, it should be more considered to formulate and prepare new dosage forms containing herbal medicines. Cordia myxa is a plant with many useful pharmacological effects such as ant-inflammatory effect and our findings showed that it may be formulated as a topical cream.

Keywords: Cordia myxa fruits extract, medicinal plants, topical cream, physicochemical properties.