FORMULATION AND EVALUATION OF SOLANUM TORVUM LEAF EXTRACT AS GEL AND COMPARISON WITH STANDARD WOUND HEALING FORMULATION

Wound healing is a complex biological process requiring effective management to prevent infection and promote tissue repair. Solanum torvum (Turkey berry) is a well-known medicinal plant belonging to the family Solanaceae, whose leaves are rich in bioactive phytoconstituents such as flavonoids, alkaloids, phenolic compounds, saponins, and terpenoids with documented antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, and antioxidant properties. In the present study, an ethanolic extract of Solanum torvum leaves was prepared by Soxhlet extraction and formulated into a topical gel using Carbopol 934 as the gelling agent. The formulated herbal gel was evaluated for various physicochemical parameters including appearance, homogeneity, spreadability, viscosity, pH, drug content, total phenolic content, and washability. The gel exhibited a green color with a smooth, homogeneous consistency, a pH of 5.5 (skin-compatible), spreadability of 13.29 g·cm/sec, viscosity of 26,833cP, and drug content of 96%. Total phenolic content was approximately 15–16 μg/mL gallic acid equivalents. Antimicrobial activity was assessed by the cup-plate method against Staphylococcus aureus (Gram-positive) and Escherichia coli (Gram-negative), yielding zones of inhibition of up to 27 mm and 23 mm, respectively, at 60 μg/mL. The formulated gel demonstrated comparable physicochemical characteristics to a standard wound-healing formulation (Clarithromycin gel), indicating its potential as a safe and effective herbal alternative for topical wound management.