Formulation and Evaluation of Polyherbal Antimicrobial Cream Using Betel Leaf Extract

Abstract

Creams were topically applied semisolid compositions. Formulations with two or more herbs are known as polyherbal formulations. Piper betel, a plant with therapeutic properties and used in Asian nations like India and Nepal (betel leaf juice is associated with diuretic characteristics), was used to make anti-microbial cream. The synergistic therapeutic potential of polyherbal formulations and their lower side effects as compared to synthetic medicines have drawn a lot of interest in recent years. The present investigation\'s objective was to establish a stable w/o herbal cream using liquid paraffin as the oily phase, neem, tulsi, and turmeric extract as the aqueous phase, and constant stirring to create a homogenous polyherbal cream. A range of pharmaceutical properties, including viscosity, spreadability, rheology, electrical conductivity, pH, and stability, were assessed for the cream. The antimicrobial effectiveness of polyherbal creams is the main topic of this study, with an emphasis on formulation creation, assessment, and standardization. The maceration process was used to extract the dried plant materials of neem, tulsi, betel leaf, and turmeric. Cream compositions may be employed as antibacterials to treat a range of bacterial diseases.

Introduction

The text describes a study on herbal medicinal plants and their chemical extraction and phytochemical analysis to identify bioactive compounds with therapeutic potential.

It focuses on four major plants: betel leaf (Piper betel), neem (Azadirachta indica), tulsi (Ocimum tenuiflorum), and turmeric (Curcuma longa), all widely used in traditional medicine. These plants contain important compounds such as alkaloids, flavonoids, tannins, saponins, terpenoids, curcuminoids, and volatile oils, which are linked to antibacterial, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and other medicinal properties.

The methodology section explains how plant materials were collected, dried, powdered, and extracted using different solvents like acetone, methanol, ethanol, water, chloroform, and dichloromethane. Various extraction techniques (maceration, shaking, rotary evaporation, filtration, and drying) were used to obtain concentrated plant extracts for testing.

Phytochemical screening was then performed using standard chemical tests:

• Betel leaf: tested positive for alkaloids and tannins
• Turmeric: showed phenols, flavonoids, and saponins
• Neem: contained flavonoids, tannins, terpenoids, saponins, and cardiac glycosides
• Tulsi: contained flavonoids, alkaloids, saponins, phenolics, and volatile oils

These tests confirmed the presence of biologically active compounds in all selected plants, supporting their traditional medicinal uses. The study highlights their potential as natural sources for pharmaceutical, antibacterial, and therapeutic applications.

Conclusion

The present study focused on the formulation and evaluation of a polyherbal antimicrobial cream containing extracts of Piper betel, Azadirachta indica, Ocimum tenuiflorum, and Curcuma longa. These medicinal plants are well known for their antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, and antioxidant properties, which make them suitable candidates for topical therapeutic formulations. The use of multiple herbal ingredients in a single formulation may enhance the overall biological activity due to synergistic interactions between phytoconstituents. The extraction procedures used in this study allowed the isolation of various phytochemical compounds from the plant materials. Preliminary phytochemical screening confirmed the presence of several biologically active constituents such as alkaloids, flavonoids, tannins, saponins, terpenoids, and phenolic compounds. These compounds are widely reported in the literature for their antimicrobial activity. Flavonoids and phenolic compounds are known to inhibit microbial growth by damaging microbial cell membranes and interfering with essential metabolic processes.

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Copyright

Copyright © 2026 Sri Sowmya Veeravalli, Bhaskara Raju Vatchavai, Jhansi Lakhsmi Polisetti, Sri Lakshmi Prasanna Guttikonda, Navya Satya Sri Palepu, Lakshmi Naga Chandana Karri, Naga Satya Krishna Gudupu. This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.