Abstract

SUNSCREEN AND ANTI-OXIDANT ACTIVITY OF HERBAL GEL OF CUCUMBER EXTRACT

Garima Garg*, Shivani Singh and Vipin Kumar Garg

Abstract

As in daily life humans are exposed to harmful UV radiations which cause tanning, sunburns, edema and various other allergic reactions it becomes a need to use such agents which can protect the human body from the above mentioned side effects. Since it is more beneficial to use natural agents in comparison to synthetic ones we have taken cucumber as an ingredient to prepare a sunscreen gel and evaluated it for its effectiveness as a sunscreen preparation. The formulated gel was evaluated for its SPF (Sun Protection Factor) i.e. protection against UVB rays and UVA: UVB ratio i.e. protection against UVA rays and it was found that the cucumber gel has potential to provide protection against both UVA rays and UVB rays. Additionally it was also found to have antioxidant properties which may contribute to sunscreen activity. The gel was found to have good spreadability, homogeneity and pH within the range of skin pH and thus suitable to use on skin.

Keywords: Sun Protection Factor (SPF), Boot star rating, DPPH, UVA/UVB ratio