Estimation of phytochemicals, biological activity, and formulation of cream from extract of Gaultheria fragrantissima Wall.

Abstract

Gaultheria fragrantissima is a medicinal plant widely used in traditional systems of medicine due to its potent therapeutic effects as an anti-inflammatory and analgesic agent. In the present study, the methanol extract and an essential volatile oil of G. fragrantissima were employed as the active ingredient for the formulation of vanishing cream, and their physicochemical and biological properties were studied. The methanol extract and volatile oil were analyzed for extractive values, ash values, and loss on drying, and total phenolic and total flavonoid contents.  Antioxidant and cytotoxic potentials were assessed using DPPH and MTT assays, respectively. The quantitative phytochemical analysis revealed that the methanol extract contained the highest total phenolic content (111.94 ± 1.36 mgGAE/g) and flavonoid content (50.02 ± 0.89 mgQE/g). Furthermore, the extract possessed strong antioxidant activity, as evidenced by the low IC50 value of 59.80 ± 0.58 µg/mL. In comparison to essential oil, methanol extract demonstrated notable cytotoxic potential with CC50 values of 41.68 ± 0.39 µg/mL in breast (MCF-7) and 57.09 ± 1.26 µg/mL in lung (A549) cancer cell lines. Six batches of the formulated cream met the required standards for pH, homogeneity, and emollience and remained stable throughout the stability testing period. The physicochemical parameters are within the range given in the Ayurvedic Pharmacopoeia of India. The prepared creams were slightly acidic in nature, but they had excellent homogeneity and emollience. The creams retained their physical attributes throughout the 28-day testing period. This study highlights the potential of G. fragrantissima in the formulation of cream with potential biomedical applications.