Abstract

FORMULATION AND EVALUATION OF ANTIMICROBIAL OINTMENT USING CASSIA TORA AND AERVA LANATA EXTRACT

Ranu Gunilal Katre*, Rashmi Kuthe, Mahesh Majumdar, Janvi Mohankar, Swati J. Tembhurne

Abstract

Plants have long supported healing, both in old practices and today’s treatments, often forming the base of basic medical care. Skin-based medicine brings benefits like targeted relief, simple use, skipping liver breakdown, and people sticking to treatment more easily. One way to deliver such remedies is through semi-solid formats - ointment being common - that keep ingredients stable while releasing them where needed. This work looked into creating and testing an ointment made with Cassia tora Linn., along with Aerva lanata, two green sources recognized for fighting fungus, bacteria, and swelling. Picked from nature, leaves of Cassia tora and Aerva lanata arrived fresh, sorted carefully to confirm identity, spread out until crisp, ground later into fine dust. One after another - hexane first, then ethyl acetate, finally methanol - each solvent stripped hidden substances slowly from Cassia tora; at the same time, strong alcohol (95%) circled through Aerva lanata inside a looping apparatus, pulling quiet chemistry drop by drop. Tests showed active plant chemicals - alkaloids popped up, along with tannins, glycosides, anthraquinones, plus reducing sugars too. An ointment took shape when wool fat met hard paraffin, blended with cetosteryl alcohol and soft paraffin, heat joining them before the extracts slipped in. Once made, it faced checks: how thick, how smooth it spreads, its acidity level, whether medicine stayed evenly mixed throughout. Stability came out clear in the tests, with even spread of the active ingredient showing up every time. From what was seen, the plant-based cream could handle skin issues tied to fungus or swelling just fine. Each batch kept its texture right, staying smooth without changes. Results like these point toward it being both gentle and useful on irritated areas. What stood out most was how well it held together during storage trials. The mix stayed consistent, never separating or degrading fast. Skin response appeared calm, not reacting harshly when tested. With findings like these, using herbs in this form makes sense for certain conditions.

Keywords: Herbal Formulation, Ointment, Topical Application, Antimicrobial Agent.