FORMULATION AND EVALUATION OF ANTIACNE CREAM CONTAINING WITHANIA SOMNIFERA

Acne vulgaris is a disease of pilosebaceous unit which is characterized by non - inflam matory and inflammatory lesions. Common therapies that are used for the treatment of acne include topical, systemic, hormonal, herbal and comb ination therapy. So, for the treatment of acne h erbal anti acne cream is prepared containing Withania somnifera extract, which is known for its anti - inflamma tory action and antioxidant property. Herbal medications are considered safer than allopathic medic ines because allopathic medications are associated with different side - effects such as allergy, local irritation, scaling, photosensitivity reaction, itching, peeling , redness etc. The study includes macroscopical and m icroscopical evaluation of Withania s omnifera contai ning ash value, loss on drying , water extractive value , Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy, Differential Scanning Calorimetry and Ultraviolet Spectroscopy. The prepared formula t io n was optimized on the basis of in vitro rele ase study. T he optimized formulation was evaluated on the basis of greasiness , spreadability , after feel , skin irritancy , viscosity, pH and release kinetics. Anti bacterial s tudy by disc diffusion technique was performed. The result obtained was zone of inhibition of test 25.66 ± 1.12 and 5.89 ± 1.18 at 500 ppm , this proved that optimized formulation has possible anti acne property. So, further investigation such as in vivo studies will help this formulation to be a potential candidate as marketed product.