Abstract

PHOTOPROTECTIVE ACTIVITY OF AN INDIGENOUS HERBAL FORMULATION

P. Jayanthi and P. Lalitha*

Abstract

Use of sunscreen agents has become a necessity in recent years due to sunburn and other related problems. There are approved physical and chemical sunscreen agents. Plants have also been used in sunscreen lotions due to their human skin friendly nature. Cyclea peltata, Tabebuia heterophylla, Kedrostis foetidissima are plants known for its medicinal properties. The petroleum ether and ethyl acetate extracts of these plants were formulated into sunscreen lotions and were tested for their photoprotective ability by Transpore tape method using an UV light meter (Lutron UV-340A). The results showed that the formulation prepared with the petroleum ether extract of Tabebuia heterophylla and the ethyl acetate extract of Kedrostis foetidissima leaf to have highest ability in blocking UV rays. The study provided an easy method of determining the UV protecting ability of the substances and also indicates the usefulness of these plants in cosmeceutical industry as UV blockers.

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