ANTIBACTERIAL AND ANTIFUNGAL ACTIVITY OF NEPALESE ORIGIN CINNAMOMUM ZEYLANICUM BLUME LEAVES EXTRACT OINTMENT

Even in areas where modern medicine is available, the interest in herbal drugs and their utilization has been rapidly increasing in recent years. Using plants for healing predates recorded history and forms the origin of modern medicine. This research explores the antibacterial and antifungal potential of an ointment formulated with Nepalese-origin Cinnamomum zeylanicum Blume leaves extract. The extraction was conducted using the Soxhlet method, and the phytochemical screening was carried out using Gas Chromatography- Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS) and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR). Two types of formulation were prepared (naming F1 to F10) with two different bases (hydrocarbon base and emulsion base). The efficacy of the formulations, comprising 10 variations with different concentrations of extract, was evaluated through the disc diffusion method. Interestingly, the emulsion-based formulation demonstrated superior activity compared to the hydrocarbon- based counterpart. Specifically, the F10 emulsion exhibited a notable zone of inhibition (ZOI) of 1923±0.24 mm and 22±0.17 mm against Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli, respectively. Additionally, F10 displayed considerable antifungal activity with ZOIs of 19±0.72 mm and 23±0.92 mm against Candida albicans and Aspergillus flavus, respectively. Similarly, the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of F5 and F10 formulation ranges from 150 to 200 μg/mL. These findings underscore the efficacy of the formulated ointment, especially the emulsion base, in inhibiting the growth of bacterial and fungal strains. The study provides valuable insights into the potential application of Cinnamomum zeylanicum Blume leaves extract for developing effective antimicrobial ointments, emphasizing its relevance in the context of pharmaceutical formulations.