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International Journal of Zoology and Applied Biosciences Research Article
Development and comprehensive evaluation of a polyherbal topical cream for the management of cutaneous microbial infections
K. Sunil Kumar, B. Jyothi, Monzar, A. Anil Kumar, CV. Bhumika and CH. Nandini
Year : 2026 | Volume: 11 | Issue: 3 | Pages: 48-52
Received on: 19/01/2026
Revised on: 22/02/2026
Accepted on: 13/03/2026
Published on: 01/05/2026
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K. Sunil Kumar, B. Jyothi, Monzar, A. Anil Kumar, CV. Bhumika and CH. Nandini( 2026).
Development and comprehensive evaluation of a polyherbal topical cream for the management of cutaneous microbial infections
. International Journal of Zoology and Applied Biosciences, 11( 3), 48-52.
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Abstract
Cutaneous microbial infections remain a significant global health concern, compounded by increasing antimicrobial resistance and adverse effects associated with prolonged synthetic drug use. Polyherbal formulations offer a multi-target therapeutic strategy with enhanced efficacy and safety. The present study aimed to formulate, optimize, and evaluate a polyherbal oil-in-water (O/W) topical cream incorporating selected medicinal plant extracts with documented antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory properties. Plant materials were extracted using suitable solvent systems and subjected to preliminary phytochemical and pharmacognostic evaluation. Compatibility between extracts and excipients was assessed using Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy. The cream was formulated using an O/W emulsion base and evaluated for physicochemical parameters, stability, and in vitro antimicrobial activity against selected Gram-positive, Gram-negative, and fungal strains. Phytochemical screening confirmed the presence of flavonoids, tannins, alkaloids, saponins, triterpenoids, and glycosides. FTIR analysis indicated no significant drug–excipient interactions. The optimized formulation exhibited acceptable pH, spreadability, homogeneity, extrudability, and stability. The polyherbal cream demonstrated enhanced antimicrobial activity compared to individual extracts, suggesting synergistic interactions among phytoconstituents. The developed polyherbal topical cream demonstrated broad-spectrum antimicrobial activity, physicochemical stability, and dermal compatibility, highlighting its potential as a safe and effective alternative for managing common skin infections. Further clinical validation is warranted.
Keywords
Polyherbal formulation, Topical cream, Antimicrobial activity, Phytochemical screening, FTIR.
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© The Author(s) 2025. This article is published by International Journal of Zoology and Applied Biosciences under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (creativecommons.org), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.
