Development and Evaluation of Hydrogel Wound Dressings Loaded with Herbal Extracts

Abstract

The current study aimed to develop carbomer based hydrogel dressings, incorporating ethanolic extracts of Rosmarinus officinalis aerial parts, Achillea millefolium and Calendula officinalis flowers. The pharmaceutical properties of the obtained hydrogels, as well as their texture and antimicrobial activity, were further evaluated. Five wound dressing formulations based on carbopol were prepared. The addition of the ethanolic extracts to the formulation slightly lowered the pH of the hydrogels, as expected. The Rosmarinus officinalis aerial parts extract loaded hydrogel proved to be the firmest one. In terms of consistency and viscosity, the behavior of the five hydrogels was relatively similar. Based on the texture analysis, the texture of the hydrogels has been affected to some extent by the addition of the ethanolic extracts, decreasing their consistency, firmness, and adhesiveness. The hydrogel loaded with Rosmarinus officinalis aerial parts extract and the one incorporating the blend of extracts (mixture of the three above-mentioned extracts) proved to have a good antimicrobial activity. The studied hydrogel formulations could serve as a basis for the development of novel wound dressing materials, although more extended in vivo studies would be needed in order to support current results.

Design and evaluation of sodium alginate-based hydrogel dressings containing Betula utilis extract for cutaneous wound healing

“…In another study, carbomer-based hydrogel wound dressings were developed by using ethanolic extracts of Rosmarinus officinalis aerial parts, Achillea millefolium, and Calendula officinalis flowers. The researchers reported better antibacterial activity for Rosmarinus officinalis extract and the one containing the blend of all extracts; thus, showing potential for future wound healing dressing ( Gavan et al, 2022 ).…”

Marine and Agro-Industrial By-Products Valorization Intended for Topical Formulations in Wound Healing Applications

“…For the preparation of the different formulations, a specific amount of an acrylic acid polymer, Carbopol 940 (0.5 g), was dispersed in purified water (100 mL) at 40 °C and was mixed by a mixer at 1200 g for 30 min ( Figure 1 A). Carbopol 940 was selected as the thickener agent due to its easy and fast dispersion properties at T room , its wide use in the pharmaceutical, cosmetic, and dermocosmetic areas for the development of topical formulations containing hydroalcoholic extracts [ 39 , 40 ], and because it provides gels with good rheological properties. Furthermore, it is biodegradable, bioadhesive, biocompatible, and it has non-irritant properties [ 40 ].…”

“…Carbopol 940 was selected as the thickener agent due to its easy and fast dispersion properties at T room , its wide use in the pharmaceutical, cosmetic, and dermocosmetic areas for the development of topical formulations containing hydroalcoholic extracts [ 39 , 40 ], and because it provides gels with good rheological properties. Furthermore, it is biodegradable, bioadhesive, biocompatible, and it has non-irritant properties [ 40 ]. The neutral pH was obtained by adding a required amount of triethanolamine (0.75 g), an organic amine, to gain a transparent gel and to obtain an adequate semisolid formulation for skin administration.…”

Central Composite Design (CCD) for the Optimisation of Ethosomal Gel Formulation of Punica granatum Extract: In Vitro and In Vivo Evaluations

“…The viscosity of ethosome gels was measured using an LV-Spindles Brookfield, DV-E viscometer (Middleboro, MA, USA) with spindle no. 64 at rpm 100 and recorded at a regulated temperature of 25 ± 2 °C (in cps) [ 35 ].…”