FORMULATION AND EVALUATION OF HERBAL LOTION USING LEAVES OF TRIDAX PROCUMBENS LINN

Dr. Mangesh Hole, Shruti Pise, Tejal Shinde, Aditya Bhakre

Herbal topical formulations have gained renewed research interest owing to their inherent biocompatibility, lower adverse-effect profile, and multi-constituent synergistic activity. Among medicinal plants, Tridax procumbens Linn. (family Asteraceae) occupies a prominent place in traditional ethnopharmacology, with documented antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and wound-healing activities attributed to its rich phytochemical profile, which encompasses flavonoids, alkaloids, tannins, saponins, terpenoids, and phenolic acids. The present investigation was undertaken to develop and characterize a stable oil-in-water herbal lotion incorporating a hydroalcoholic leaf extract of T. procumbens. The formulation was designed using pharmaceutical-grade excipients—including Carbopol 940, cetostearyl alcohol, emulsifying wax, liquid paraffin, glycerine, camphor, and standard preservatives—to obtain an elegant, nongreasy, skin-compatible topical preparation. Phytochemical screening confirmed the presence of all major secondary metabolites. Physicochemical evaluation encompassed appearance, pH, viscosity, spreadability, homogeneity, washability, and accelerated stability under varied temperature conditions. Antimicrobial efficacy was determined by the agar well-diffusion method against Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Candida albicans. Results demonstrated that the optimized lotion exhibited a smooth, homogeneous texture (pH 6.2 ± 0.1), acceptable viscosity (3,800–4,200 cP), and satisfactory spreadability (12.4 ± 0.8 g•cm•s⁻¹). No phase separation, colour change, or skin irritation was observed during a 90-day stability study. The formulation produced notable zones of inhibition against all tested organisms (8–18 mm), indicating clinically relevant antimicrobial activity. These findings support the potential of T. procumbensbased herbal lotion as a safe and effective topical agent for wound care and dermatological management.