COMPREHENSIVE REVIEW ON HERBAL ANTISEPTIC BALM: COMPOSITION, PHARMACOLOGICAL ACTIVITIES, AND FORMULATION ASPECTS

Herbal antiseptic balms are widely used topical formulations that combine essential oils and plant extracts to provide antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, analgesic, antioxidant, and wound-healing effects. This review summarises the botanical ingredients, key phytochemicals, pharmacological activities, formulation approaches, and safety considerations associated with herbal antiseptic balms. Essential oils such as tea tree, eucalyptus, clove, peppermint, and camphor contribute potent bioactivities through terpenoids and phenolic compounds, while flavonoids and alkaloids enhance anti-inflammatory and tissue-repair mechanisms. Formulation aspects—including base selection, incorporation of herbal actives, physicochemical evaluation, and stability assessment—are essential to ensure therapeutic efficacy and product consistency. Safety evaluations highlight the importance of concentration limits for essential oils to prevent irritation or toxicity, supported by regulatory guidelines from WHO, EMA, FDA, and IFRA. Overall, herbal antiseptic balms remain valuable therapeutic agents for managing minor wounds, skin infections, inflammation, and related conditions, offering natural, multifunctional, and accessible alternatives to synthetic topical treatments.