Evaluation of topical antimicrobial ointment formulations of essential oil of <i>Lippia multiflora</i> moldenke

Abstract

Background: Essential oil of Lippia multiflora (lippia oil) has been reported to possess antibacterial and antifungal activities. This study was aimed at developing an effective topical formulation of the oil for the treatment of skin infections. Materials and Methods: Lippia oil was extracted from leaves of L. multiflora by hydrodistillation. Different concentrations of the oil were incorporated into six different ointment bases. Tween 80 was incorporated at different concentrations into ointments containing 10 %w/w lippia oil; a concentration at which minimum antimicrobial activity was observed in the ointment bases. The viscosity, spreadability and stability of the formulations were determined. Antimicrobial activities of lippia oil in the formulations were determined against selected bacteria and fungi using the agar diffusion assay method. 10 %w/w salicylic acid formulations were used as reference products. Results: Incorporation of lippia oil into the ointment bases led to reduction in their viscosity with increase in spreadability. None of the formulations showed antimicrobial activity at lippia oil content ≤ 5 %w/w. Inclusion of Tween 80 in the formulations significantly increased the antimicrobial activities of the oil (P<0.05). The antimicrobial activities of 10 %w/w lippia oil formulated in absorption bases containing 6 %w/w Tween 80 was significantly higher (P<0.05) than those formulated in hydrophobic bases. Lippia oil ointment formulations showed greater antimicrobial activities than salicylic acid ointments. Two of the lippia oil ointment formulations bled when subjected to centrifugal force. Conclusion: Ointment formulations of lippia oil (10 %w/w) in absorption base (Hydrous Wool fat Ointment BP or Simple Ointment BP) containing 6 %w/w Tween 80 were found stable and very effective in inhibiting growth of selected pathogens implicated in skin infections.

Antifungal Properties of Essential Oils and Their Compounds for Application in Skin Fungal Infections: Conventional and Nonconventional Approaches

“…The findings of this study revealed that the most effective inhibitory action was obtained when lippia oil (10% w/w ) was combined with Hydrous Wool Fat Ointment BP (British Pharmacopoeia method) or Simple Ointment BP, with added Tween 80 (6% w/w ) upon testing of C. pseudotropicalis and C. albicans . The incorporation of Tween 80 further enhanced the efficacy of this formulation, suggesting its suitability as a nonconventional treatment strategy [ 85 ].…”

Phytochemical Profiling, and Antifungal Potentials of Stem-Bark Extracts of East African (Khaya Anthotheca)

“…Ten milliliters of sterile normal saline containing 3% w/v Tween 80 will be used to disperse the spores with the aid of sterilized glass beads (Oladimeji, et al, 2015). Standardization of the spore suspension to 1.0×10 6 spores/mL will be achieved with a UV spectrophotometer (Spectronic 20D; Milton Roy Company, Pacisa, Madrid, Spain) at 530nm (OD at 530) of the suspensions and adjusted to a transmittance of 70-72%.…”

In Vivo Anti-Inflammatory Assessment of a Topical Formulation Containing Ehretia Cymosa Extract Mediated-Silver Nanoparticles

“…Spreadability as shown in Fig. 8 is a parameter which denotes the ability, ease of application and extent an ointment would spread on the skin after application (Oladimeji et al, 2015). All formulations had satisfactory spreadability.…”