Standardization and in vitro evaluation of in house developed anti-psoriatic ointment from traditional Unani formulation Zimad (Paste)

Psoriasis patients are increasingly turning to Unani medicine for treatment using both topical and oral dosage forms. One of the key semi-solid dosage forms used in Unani medicine for psoriasis is zimad (paste); however, its application is time-consuming, messy, and inconvenient, leading to poor patient compliance. To overcome these limitations, a more practical Unani ointment was developed to improve treatment adherence and therapeutic outcomes. In this study, a total of eleven batches (F1-F11) were prepared for formulation optimization, of which batch F10 was selected as the final optimized formulation and evaluated for various physicochemical parameters. In vitro studies were conducted, including total microbial analysis, anti-inflammatory activity, and antibacterial activity. Microbial contamination testing was performed according to standard pharmacopeial procedures, including total aerobic microbial count (TAMC), total yeast and mould count (TYMC), and tests for specified pathogens such as Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Staphylococcus aureus . Antibacterial activity of both zimad and ointment was evaluated against selected microorganisms. Quantification of biomarkers using high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), particularly luteolin and ellagic acid, was carried out in zimad , hydroalcoholic extract, and the developed ointment. The physicochemical evaluation revealed that the highest concentrations of luteolin and ellagic acid were present in the extract, while the lowest were observed in zimad . Microbiological analysis showed no growth of yeast, mould, or viable aerobic organisms in both zimad and ointment formulations. Additionally, no growth of specified pathogens ( Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Staphylococcus aureus ) was detected. The ointment demonstrated higher anti-inflammatory activity compared to zimad and showed antibacterial activity against Staphylococcus aureus . Hence it can be concluded that the developed formulation exhibited significant antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory properties, suggesting its potential to reduce the severity of psoriasis and improve patient compliance compared to traditional zimad dosage forms.