Krutika Dixit1, Bhavik Chauhan2, Reshma Jain2
1School of Pharmacy, ITM SLS Baroda University, Vadodara, Gujarat, India
2Faculty of Pharmacy, The Maharaja Sayajirao University of Baroda, Vadodara, Gujarat, India
*Address for Corresponding Author
Ms. Krutika Dixit
Department of Pharmacognosy
School of Pharmacy, ITM SLS Baroda University,
Dhanora Tank Road, Off Halol Highway, Near Jarod, Paldi, Vadodara-391510, Gujarat, India
Abstract
Background: Inflammation is a key factor in many acute and chronic conditions, necessitating safe and effective long-term treatments. Polyherbal formulations, combining multiple herbal extracts, offer potential synergistic benefits with reduced side effects. This study evaluates the antioxidant and anti- inflammatory properties of a polyherbal extract containing Zingiber officinale, Boswellia serrata, Ocimum sanctum, and Cinnamomum camphora through in-vitro assays. Objective: To assess the anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties of a polyherbal formulation by evaluating oxidative stress markers, inflammatory markers, and cell responses. Materials and methods: transdermal patch was formulated using solvent casting with herbal extracts, PVP, and HPMC. Antioxidant activity was tested using the DPPH assay and Anti-inflammatory effects were evaluated using MTT cytotoxicity, ELISA for TNF-α inhibition, COX-II inhibition, and protein denaturation assays. Results: The formulation exhibited strong antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activity. Boswellia serrata demonstrated the 55.56% free radical scavenging among the extracts, outperforming standard ascorbic acid in its effectiveness. The MTT assay showed an IC50 of 44.39±0.21 µl/ml. ELISA demonstrated a reduction in TNF-α upto 42.41 pg/ml. The COX-II inhibition assay yielded an IC50 of 0.2493 ± 0.11 µl/ml, outperforming celecoxib. Protein denaturation inhibition was comparable to diclofenac. The patch had good mechanical strength, with thickness (0.46–0.62 mm) and folding endurance (>100 folds). Conclusion: The polyherbal transdermal patch effectively reduces inflammation and oxidative stress, inhibiting TNF-α and COX-II activity and suppressing protein denaturation. This study suggests it could be a viable natural alternative for inflammation management and study paves the way for future clinical investigations to validate these findings and optimize formulation design and dosage for enhanced clinical efficacy.
Keywords: Herbal synergism, Antioxidant activity, Inflammation management, Cytokine suppression
