INTRODUCTION:

Many drugs commonly used today are of herbal origin. Indeed, about 25 percent of the prescription drugs dispensed in the United States contain at least one active ingredient derived from plant material. Some are made from plant extracts, others are synthesized to mimic a natural plant compound. Herbal medicinal products are defined as any medicinal product, exclusively containing one or more active substances. WHO report 80% of the world population relies on the drug from natural origin.¹ Medicinal plants are believed to have therapeutically important as they are rich in various phytochemical constituents which treat many diseases.²

Most of these medicinal plants have been used for a long time and are assessed to be safer than isolated active compounds.³ Synthetic pharmaceuticals, however, are found out to be relatively more expensive and produce numerous undesirable side-effects despite their strong pharmacological action. Thus people now a days are shifting back to herbal drugs, which are originated from the nature and claim to be safer.⁴ Designing of herbal formulations is till date a challenge in modern pharmaceutics. There are number of medicinal herbs in traditional system of medicine which are time tested, useful for the number of ailment.⁵ Ointment is a viscous semisolid preparation used topically on a variety of body surfaces. An ointment may or may not be medicated. Medicated ointments contain a medicament dissolved, suspended or emulsified in the base.⁶ Anogeissus latifolia, (Combretaceae), locally known as Dhava, available throughout India. The bark, leaves, heartwood and roots of the plant is traditionally used for the treatment of dysentery, snakebite, leprosy, wounds and ulcers, skin diseases, diabetes and jaundice.⁷ The root is particularly useful in haematuria, urethral discharges and urinary tract infections.⁸ The bark is reported to have potent antioxidant activity and possess several biological activities like antiulcer, antimicrobial, wound healing, chemoprotective and hepatoprotective activity. A variety of chemical constituents which contributes to various therapeutic activities have been identified in the plant. The bark of Anogeissus latifoliais reported to contain phenolic compounds like gallic acid, ellagic acid, chebulic acid and flavonoids like rutin and quercetin.⁷ Chemically leaves, bark and heartwood yield quinic and shikmik acids; leaves contain gallotannin (90% - 95% of the tannins). The young leaves and shoots contain 50% tannins (dry basis). The bark contains 12% to 18% tannins. Heartwood contains gallic acid, ellagic acid, its derivatives, quercetinandmyricetin. The gum is mainly the calcium salt of a complex, high molecular weight polysaccharic acid (ghattic acid).⁹ In the present study we have tried to formulate and evaluate a herbal ointment of Anogeissus latifolia as well as determine its membrane stabilizing effect.

MATERIALS AND METHOD:

Collection of Plant material:

The bark of Anogeissus latifolia were collected from the local area of Sakoli of Bhandara district in Maharashtra and authenticated by Department of Botany, M. B. Patel College, Sakoli.

Preparation of extract:

The dried bark was grind with the help of mechanical grinder to convert into the powder form and allow for cold maceration with ethanol for ten days. The mixture was filtered with the help of muslin cloth and finally allowed for evaporation to produce semisolid mass. The extract was stored in the airtight container at cool and dark place.¹⁰

Procedure for preparation of herbal ointment: Initially ointment base was prepared by weighing accurately grated hard paraffin which was placed in evaporating dish on water bath. After melting of hard paraffin remaining ingredients were added and stirred gently to aid melting and mixing homogeneously followed by cooling of ointment base. Herbal ointment was prepared by mixing accurately weighed extract to the ointment base by levigation method to prepare a smooth paste with 2 or 3 times its weight of base, gradually incorporating more bases until to form homogeneous ointment, finally transferred in a suitable container.^11,12

.Table No. 1: Formulation of ointment base

Sr. No.	Name of ingredients	Quantity to be taken (g)
1.	Wool fat	2.5
2.	Cetosterol alcohol	2.5
3.	Hard paraffin	2.5
4.	Yellow soft paraffin	42.5

Table No. 2: Formulation of Herbal ointment

Sr. No.	Name of ingredients	Quantity to be taken (g)
1.	Prepared ethanolic extract	1
2.	ointment base q.s.	50

Physicochemical evaluation:

The ointment was evaluated with following physicochemical parameters ^13,14,15

Colour and Odour:

Physical parameters like colour and odour were examined by visual examination.

Consistency:

Smooth and no greediness are observed

pH:

pH of prepared herbal ointment was measured by using digital pH meter. The 0.5 g of the weighed formulation was dispersed in 50 ml of distilled water and the pH was determined.

Viscosity:

The viscosity was measured by Brookfield viscometer which measures the shearing stress on spindle rotating at a definite, constant speed while immersed in the sample.

Spreadability:

The spreadability was determined by placing excess of sample in between two slides which was compressed to uniform thickness by placing a definite weight for definite time. The time required to separate the two slides was measured as spreadability. Lesser the time taken for separation of two slides results better spreadability. Spreadability was calculated by following formula,

S = M × –

Where,

S = Spreadability

M = Weight tide to the upper slide

L = Length of glass slide

T = Time taken to separate the slides

Diffusion study:

The diffusion study was carried out by preparing agar nutrient medium. A whole board at the center of medium and ointment was by placed in it. The time taken by ointment to get diffused through was noted. After 60 minutes LOD was determined by placing the formulation in Petri-dish on water bath and dried for the temperature 105^oC.

Solubility:

Soluble in boiling water; miscible with alcohol, ether and chloroform.

Washability:

Formulation was applied on the skin and then ease extends of washing with water was checked.

Non irritancy Test:

Herbal ointment prepared was applied to the skin of human being and observed for the effect.

Stability study:

Physical stability test of the herbal ointment was carried out for four weeks at various temperature conditions like 20^oC, 25^oC and 37^oC. The herbal ointment was found to be physically stable at different temperature i.e. 20^oC, 25^oC and 37^oC within four weeks.

RESULT AND DISCUSSION:

The present study was done to prepare and evaluate the herbal ointment. In this case herbal extract was prepared by using simple maceration process to obtain a good yield of extract and there was no any harm to the chemical constituents and their activity. The levigation method was used to prepare ointment so that uniform mixing of the herbal extract with the ointment base was occurred which was stable during the storage. The physicochemical properties were studied which shows satisfactory results for pH, consistency, spreadability, viscosity, washability and solubility. The pH of the formulations lies in the normal pH range of human skin (6.8 ± 1). The results of viscosity gives an idea about measurement of strength and the result of spreadability denote the extent of area to which the prepared formulations readily spreads on application to skin or affected part and homogeneity confirms no lumps All the formulations did not produce any skin irritation, i.e , erythema and edema for about a week when applied over the skin. These formulations did not produce any skin irritation for about a week when applied over the skin. The formulation was also placed for a stability study at different temperature conditions like 20^oC, 25^oC and 37^oC within four weeks. There were no changes observed in spreading ability, diffusion study as well as irritant effect.

Table No. 3: Physicochemical evaluation of prepared ointment

Physicochemical parameter	Observations
Colour	Light brown
Odour	Characteristics
Consistency	Smooth
pH	5.8
Viscosity	Spindle No. 63, 1.5 rpm, 63000 centipoise
Spreadability (second)	09
Diffusion study (after 60 min)	0.9
Solubility	Soluble in boiling water, miscible with alcohol, ether, chloroform.
Washability	Good
Non-irritancy	Non-irritant
Stability study (2^oC, 25^oC, 37^oC)	Stable

CONCLUSION:

Topical route of application has a great potential as an effective and safe way to administer in the form of ointments. Ointments prepared from the ethanolic extract of Anogeissus latifolia bark passes all physicochemical evaluation parameters and it shows significant results. Since ancient time, herbs plays major role in the treatment because of less side effects, low cost and easy availability. Anogeissus latifolia have been used in traditional Indian medicine for various ranges of ailments including skin diseases and wounds. Thus this ointment could become a media to use its medicinal properties effectively and easily as a simple dosage form. Further investigations are necessary to determine the therapeutic efficiency of the prepared herbal ointment.

CONFLICT OF INTEREST:

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

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Received on 04.06.2019 Modified on 30.06.2019

Res. J. Pharma. Dosage Forms and Tech.2019; 11(3):149-151.

DOI: 10.5958/0975-4377.2019.00025.9