FORMULATION AND EVALUATION OF NIOSOMAL GEL OF NEOLAMARCKIA CADAMBA LEAVES EXTRACT AND ITS ANTIMICROBIAL ACTIVITY
Anurag Kourav, Akhilesh Kumar Singhai, Steffi Thomas
ABSTRACT
The study aimed to formulate and evaluate a niosomal gel incorporating Neolamarekia cadamba leaves extract for its potential antimicrobial activity. Niosomes, as vesicular systems, enhance the bioavailability and stability of phytochemicals. Neolamarekia cadamba, known for its rich array of bioactive compounds, presents promising antimicrobial properties. This research encapsulated the methanolic extract of Neolamarekia cadamba leaves into niosomes using a thin-film hydration technique. The niosomal formulations were optimized based on vesicle size, and zeta potential. The optimized niosomes exhibited an average particle size of 511.6 nm for all formulations, and a zeta potential of average from -0.4 to -4.4 mV, indicating good stability. The resulting niosomal gel was characterized for pH, viscosity, and spreadability. The gel maintained a pH of 6.7, suitable for topical application, with satisfactory viscosity and spreadability, ensuring ease of application and patient compliance. Antimicrobial activity was evaluated against common pathogenic strain including Escherichia coli using the Well diffusion method. The niosomal gel demonstrated significant antimicrobial activity, with zones of inhibition comparable to standard antibiotics. This novel formulation can be a potential candidate for treating microbial infections, offering an alternative to conventional antibiotics with added benefits of improved stability and bioavailability of the phytoconstituents. Future studies should focus on in vivo evaluations and long-term stability assessments to further substantiate these findings.
[Full Text Article]