Abstract

A REVIEW OF MULTIPURPOSE HERBAL CREAM

Gowri R. R., Anupama Saji S., Fathima Nizarudeen, Mr. M. Shunmugha Sundaram

Abstract

The increasing interest in naturally derived cosmetic products has encouraged the development of herbal formulations for skin care and cosmetic applications.[1] Herbal creams are semisolid topical preparations containing plant-derived materials that may provide moisturizing, antioxidant, antimicrobial, soothing and skin-conditioning effects.[1,2] The biological activities of herbal creams are associated with the diverse phytoconstituents present in medicinal plants, including polyphenols, flavonoids, terpenoids, alkaloids, enzymes and vitamins.[2,3] Multipurpose herbal creams may combine several functional ingredients in a single formulation to provide complementary skin-care benefits such as moisturization, protection, conditioning and support for healthy skin.[1,4] However, the natural origin of an ingredient does not automatically establish its safety, and appropriate quality control, stability and safety evaluation are necessary for herbal cosmetic formulations.[1,9] This review discusses cosmetics, skin care, common skin problems, herbal creams, commonly used ingredients, methods of preparation and evaluation parameters relevant to multipurpose herbal cream formulations.[1,4]

Keywords: Herbal cream, multipurpose cream, herbal cosmetics, topical formulation.