Formulation and Evaluation of Antimicrobial Herbal Ointment

Abstract

Most of the antibiotics were originally derived from micro-organisms while thechemotherapeutic agents are from plants. Herbal medicine refers to the use of anyplant's seeds, berries, roots, leaves, bark, or flowers for medicinal purposes. Alongwith other dosage forms, herbal drugs are also formulated in the form of ointment. Anointment is a viscous semisolid preparation used topically on a variety of bodysurfaces. The objective of the study was to formulate and evaluate the antimicrobialherbal ointment from the local medicinal plants. The ethanolic extracts of the selectedplants were taken in different ratio randomly and the antimicrobial tests of thecombinations were carried out. The most effective combination was then determinedby comparing the results of the zone of inhibition given by the 10 different extractratios on Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli and Klebsiella species. Then theminimum inhibitory concentration of the effective combination was found out. Theointment base was prepared and formulation of ointment was done by incorporatingthe active ingredients in most effective ratio in the base by trituration. After thecompletion of the formulation, quality of the ointment was assessed in terms ofirritancy, spreadability, diffusion and stability.Key words: Herbal ointment; minimum inhibitory concentration; irritancy;spreadability; diffusion; stabilityDOI: 10.3126/kuset.v6i1.3317 Kathmandu University Journal of Science, Engineering and Technology Vol.6(1) 2010, pp102-107