Formulation and Physicochemical Evaluation of a Polyherbal Topical Gel Containing Withania Somnifera, Hibiscus Rosa-sinensis, and Aloe vera

Abstract

A polyherbal topical gel containing extracts of Withania somnifera, Hibiscus rosa-sinensis, and Aloe vera was developed and evaluated to investigate its physicochemical characteristics, diffusion behavior, antimicrobial potential, and storage stability. The plant materials were shade-dried, pulverized, and subjected to ethanolic extraction through the maceration technique. Qualitative phytochemical investigation of the resulting extracts confirmed the presence of several bioactive secondary metabolites, including alkaloids, flavonoids, tannins, phenolic compounds, glycosides, and saponins. Preliminary chromatographic profiling was carried out using Thin Layer Chromatography (TLC), which produced characteristic spots with distinct Rf values, indicating the presence of identifiable phytochemical constituents. Three gel formulations (F1, F2, and F3) were prepared using Carbopol 934 as the gelling agent and subsequently assessed for various physicochemical attributes such as appearance, homogeneity, pH, viscosity, spreadability, and consistency. Comparative evaluation of the prepared formulations identified F2 as the most suitable formulation owing to its balanced physicochemical properties. The selected formulation was further examined through an in vitro diffusion study employing a Franz diffusion cell, antimicrobial testing against Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and accelerated stability evaluation. The optimized gel demonstrated satisfactory diffusion characteristics over a 3-hour experimental period and produced an inhibition zone of 17.25 mm against Pseudomonas aeruginosa, indicating notable antibacterial activity. Furthermore, no significant changes in physical appearance or stability-related parameters were observed during the study period. The overall results suggest that the developed polyherbal gel possesses desirable formulation characteristics and promising preliminary in vitro performance. Nevertheless, additional investigations, including ex vivo permeation studies, skin irritation assessments, pharmacological evaluation, and clinical validation, are necessary to further establish its safety profile and potential therapeutic applications.