FORMULATION AND EVALUATION OF HERBAL WOUND HEALING CREAM CONTAINING KOKUM (GARCINIAINDICA) LEAF EXTRACT

Wound healing is a complex and coordinated biological process involving hemostasis, inflammation, proliferation, collagen deposition, tissue remodeling, and re-epithelialization. The increasing demand for safe, effective, and affordable topical therapies has led to growing interest in herbal formulations because of their therapeutic potential and minimal adverse effects. The present study was aimed at the formulation and evaluation of a herbal wound healing cream containing Kokum (Garcinia indica) leaf extract as the principal bioactive ingredient. Kokum leaves are rich in flavonoids, polyphenols, xanthones, garcinol, and other phenolic compounds that possess antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and antimicrobial activities, which may promote faster wound healing and tissue regeneration. Neem oil and β-caryophyllene were incorporated to enhance antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, and skin-repair properties, while suitable pharmaceutical excipients were used to obtain a stable topical cream formulation. The herbal cream was prepared by the fusion method using separate oil and aqueous phases, followed by emulsification and controlled cooling to obtain a homogeneous semisolid preparation. The developed formulations were evaluated for organoleptic characteristics, pH, homogeneity, spreadability, viscosity, washability, extrudability, stability, skin irritation potential, antimicrobial activity, in-vitro drug release, and wound healing activity. The prepared cream exhibited a smooth texture, uniform consistency, acceptable pH suitable for topical application, good spreadability, satisfactory washability, and excellent physical stability without phase separation. The presence of antioxidant and antimicrobial phytoconstituents is expected to reduce oxidative stress, inhibit microbial growth, minimize inflammation, and accelerate tissue repair. The findings indicate that the developed herbal wound healing cream possesses desirable physicochemical properties and shows promising potential as a natural topical formulation for wound management. However, further pharmacological investigations, in-vivo studies, and well-designed clinical trials are recommended to establish its therapeutic efficacy, safety, and long-term stability before clinical application.