FORMULATION AND EVALUATION OF WOUND HEALING CREAM USING Clerodendrum infortunatum EXTRACT

Abstract: Wound healing is a complex biological process involving haemostasis, inflammation, proliferation and tissue remodelling. Herbal medicines have gained importance in wound management due to the presence of various bioactive phytoconstituents with antioxidant, antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory properties. The present study was undertaken to formulate and evaluate a herbal wound-healing cream containing Clerodendrum infortunatum Linn. leaf extract. The leaves were collected, authenticated, shade-dried, powdered and extracted using ethanol by the Soxhlet extraction method. Preliminary phytochemical screening of the extract confirmed the presence of alkaloids, flavonoids, tannins, phenolics, saponins, steroids, terpenoids and glycosides. The herbal cream was formulated using suitable excipients such as stearic acid, cetyl alcohol, liquid paraffin, glycerin, triethanolamine, methyl paraben and propyl paraben. Different trial formulations were prepared and evaluated for appearance, colour, odour, homogeneity, pH, spreadability, washability, skin irritation, stability and wound-healing activity. The formulations showed satisfactory physical characteristics, skin-compatible pH, good washability, absence of significant irritation and acceptable stability. Among the evaluated formulations, F3 showed the highest wound contraction of 96% on the 14th day. The study indicates that Clerodendrum infortunatum leaf extract has promising potential as a herbal active ingredient in a topical wound-healing cream. Further pharmacological, toxicity, standardization and clinical studies are required to establish its safety and efficacy. Keywords: Clerodendrum infortunatum Linn.;Phytoconstituents; Herbal Topical Delivery; Cutaneous Repair; Plant-Based Therapeutics; Ethanolic Leaf Extract; Pharmaceutical Formulation; Tissue Regeneration.