Formulation and Evaluation of a Polyherbal Cream Containing Moringa oleifera, Acacia catechu and Piper longum Extracts

The growing interest in herbal topical preparations has encouraged the development of semisolid formulations combining plant-derived ingredients with conventional pharmaceutical excipients. This study aimed to formulate and preliminarily evaluate an oil-in-water (O/W) polyherbal cream containing extracts of Moringa oleifera leaves, Acacia catechu, and Piper longum, selected for their reported antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and antimicrobial potential. Moringa oleifera contains phenolic and flavonoid constituents, Acacia catechu is rich in catechins, tannins, and polyphenols, while Piper longum contains alkaloids such as piperine and piperlongumine. The extracts were prepared by maceration/solvent extraction and incorporated into an O/W cream base containing stearic acid, cetyl alcohol, beeswax, peppermint oil, triethanolamine, propylene glycol, and preservatives. Evaluation included pH, viscosity, aqueous dissolution behaviour, stability, skin irritation, acid value, and saponification value. The recorded pH values were 7.33 and 7.36, while Brookfield viscosity readings were 26832 and 26963 at 100 rpm using spindle No. 64. The cream was reported to dissolve completely in water and produced no visible irritation, erythema, or edema during observation. Physical stability was reported under room-temperature, sunlight, and freezer storage conditions. Acid values were approximately 28.38 and 29.62, while calculated saponification values were approximately 23.84 and 32.26. Overall, the formulation demonstrated acceptable preliminary physical characteristics. The selected herbal ingredients have reported antioxidant and anti-inflammatory potential; however, these activities require further experimental evaluation of the prepared polyherbal cream.