FORMULATION AND EVALUATION OF ANTIOXIDANT CREAM FROM METHANOL LEAVES EXTRACT OF POLYGONUM MINUS

Oxidative stress is considered as one of the vital factor that causes serious ailments to humans. The free radicals speeds up the aging process and thus, the need of antioxidants gains importance as it will help to protect body from free radicals and their threats. Due to increase in demand for antioxidant products, the present study focuses on the formulation and evaluation of a herbal antioxidant cream from the methanol leaves extract of Polygonum minus. Leaves was extracted by continuous hot extraction method using hexane and methanol as solvent. The extracts were studied on its free radical scavenging activity using DPPH assay. Methanol leaves extract showed higher free radical scavenging activity with the Inhibition Concentration range between 31.25 to 62.5 µg/ml compared to hexane extract which is at 500 µg/ml. However, standard ascorbic acid have showed potential antioxidant activity when compared to sample extracts. Methanol leaves extract was selected for antioxidant cream formulation due to its phenomenal free radical scavenging activity. The invitro evaluation on the formulated cream was carried out on several parameters such as thermal stability, pH, viscosity, type of formulation and physical appearance. Evaluation parameters showed good results and the formulated cream was stable during the entire period of stability testing. The formulated antioxidant cream from the methanol leaves extract of P. minus proved potential free radical scavenging activity, which will enhance the importance of this plant to the future research community and increases its commercial visibility in the herbal and cosmetic industry. Keywords: Polygonum minus Huds. (P. minus), DPPH assay, IC50, Antioxidant Formulation.