EVALUATION OF SUN PROTECTIVE EFFECT OF OCIMUM GRATISSIMUM (LAMIACEAE) ESSENTIAL OIL IN A CREAM-BASED FORMULATION
Faculty
Department
Year of Publication
Keyword
upload
Publication Type
Abstract
The increasing awareness of the harmful effects of ultraviolet (UV) radiation has led to a
growing demand for natural alternatives to synthetic sunscreens. Ocimum gratissimum,
commonly known as scent leaf, has demonstrated potential antioxidant and photoprotective properties, making it a viable candidate for sun protection formulations. This study aimed to evaluate the sun protective effect of Ocimum gratissimum essential oil when incorporated into a cream-based formulation. The essential oil was extracted from Ocimum gratissimum leaves using hydro-distillation with a Clevenger apparatus. Physicochemical properties such as specific gravity, refractive index, acid value, saponification value, and iodine value were analysed to assess oil quality. The extracted oil was formulated into a cream, which was then evaluated for its physical properties, antioxidant activity, and sun protection factor (SPF) using the Mansur equation and UV-Visible spectrophotometry. The essential oil yield was 0.753%, and its physicochemical properties indicated good stability. The formulated creams demonstrated improved spreadability, pH values between 6.38 and 6.8 (suitable for topical application), and skin compatibility. The essential oil exhibited significant antioxidant activity with an IC50 value of 28.96 μg/mL in the DPPH radical scavenging assay. SPF analysis revealed modest photoprotective properties, with the essential oil alone showing a base SPF value of 1.766 at 0.01% concentration. The formulated creams exhibited a concentration-dependent increase in SPF values, ranging from 1.45 (1% EO) to 2.58 (3% EO + CO). The study highlights the potential of Ocimum gratissimum essential oil as a natural ingredient in skincare formulations, offering both antioxidant and mild photoprotective benefits. Further research is recommended to optimize the formulation and evaluate its in vivo efficacy and safety
growing demand for natural alternatives to synthetic sunscreens. Ocimum gratissimum,
commonly known as scent leaf, has demonstrated potential antioxidant and photoprotective properties, making it a viable candidate for sun protection formulations. This study aimed to evaluate the sun protective effect of Ocimum gratissimum essential oil when incorporated into a cream-based formulation. The essential oil was extracted from Ocimum gratissimum leaves using hydro-distillation with a Clevenger apparatus. Physicochemical properties such as specific gravity, refractive index, acid value, saponification value, and iodine value were analysed to assess oil quality. The extracted oil was formulated into a cream, which was then evaluated for its physical properties, antioxidant activity, and sun protection factor (SPF) using the Mansur equation and UV-Visible spectrophotometry. The essential oil yield was 0.753%, and its physicochemical properties indicated good stability. The formulated creams demonstrated improved spreadability, pH values between 6.38 and 6.8 (suitable for topical application), and skin compatibility. The essential oil exhibited significant antioxidant activity with an IC50 value of 28.96 μg/mL in the DPPH radical scavenging assay. SPF analysis revealed modest photoprotective properties, with the essential oil alone showing a base SPF value of 1.766 at 0.01% concentration. The formulated creams exhibited a concentration-dependent increase in SPF values, ranging from 1.45 (1% EO) to 2.58 (3% EO + CO). The study highlights the potential of Ocimum gratissimum essential oil as a natural ingredient in skincare formulations, offering both antioxidant and mild photoprotective benefits. Further research is recommended to optimize the formulation and evaluate its in vivo efficacy and safety
Supervisor(s)
co-supervisor