DEVELOPMENT AND IN-VITRO EVALUATION OF A LAVENDER OIL–LOADED HERBAL NANOEMULGEL FOR ANTI-AGING TREATMENT

The present study aimed to develop a lavender oil–loaded herbal nanoemulgel and evaluate its physicochemical characteristics, antioxidant activity, and in-vitro anti-aging potential. Lavender oil nanoemulsion was prepared using a high-energy emulsification technique and incorporated into a Carbopol gel base to obtain a nanoemulgel. The formulation was evaluated for pH, viscosity, spreadability, drug content, stability, antioxidant activity (DPPH and FRAP assays), and collagenase inhibition. The developed lavender oil–loaded nanoemulgel exhibited satisfactory physicochemical properties with a skin-compatible pH of 5.7 ± 0.2, viscosity of 4800 ± 150 cPs, good spreadability, and uniform drug content of 98.4 ± 1.3%. The formulation remained physically stable with no phase separation or significant change in appearance during stability studies. In the DPPH radical scavenging assay, the nanoemulgel showed significantly higher antioxidant activity compared to the conventional gel, demonstrating maximum inhibition at higher concentrations. The FRAP assay further confirmed superior reducing power of the nanoemulgel, indicating enhanced antioxidant potential. Additionally, the nanoemulgel exhibited marked collagenase inhibition, which was significantly greater than that of the conventional gel, highlighting its improved in-vitro anti-aging efficacy. The results demonstrate that lavender oil nanoemulgel is a promising herbal topical delivery system for anti-aging applications, offering improved stability, bioactivity, and skin compatibility.