Physicochemical and Phytochemical Evaluation of Aqueous and Alcoholic Extracts of Tamraparna (Nicotiana tabacum L.) and Development of Topical Gel Formulation
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.70066/jahm.v14i6.2789Keywords:
Alcoholic extract, Aqueous extract, Bhavyashree, Nicotine, Parikartika, Tamraparna.Abstract
Background: Tamraparna (Nicotiana tabacum L.) leaves bioactive phytoconstituents exhibit a wide range of pharmacological activities. Method of extraction has high impact on the qualitative and quantitative analysis of extracts. Topical drug delivery systems primarily deliver the drug locally and provide increased patient compliance by reducing systemic side effects. Gels are convenient topical dosage forms having benefits of high aqueous component, permitting greater dissolution of drug and ease of application. Objective: To assess physicochemical and phytochemical properties of aqueous and alcoholic extracts of Tamraparna (Bhavyashree variety) leaves and to develop standardized gel formulation using alcoholic extract. Materials and Methods: Soxhlet extraction of Tamraparna dried leaves was done using water and ethanol as solvents and extracts were subjected to organoleptic, physicochemical, phytochemical (qualitative screening and quantitative estimation of total alkaloid) characterization using standard procedures. A topical formulation of gel was prepared using Carbopol 934 by one factor at a time (OFAT) approach employing extracts at various concentrations (1-6% w/w), which was then subjected to evaluation of physical parameters like extrusion, homogeneity, pH and preliminary skin sensitivity parameters. Results: Phytochemical screening of extracts divulged the presence of carbohydrates, reducing sugars, flavonoids, tannins, whereas alkaloids, proteins, steroids and cardiac glycosides were detected in alcoholic extract only. The total alkaloid content of extract was estimated 132.43 mg AE/100 g. Alcoholic extract exhibited excellent antioxidant activity that is 95.36% at a concentration of 250 µg/mL. Among various prepared formulations, 5% w/w gel exhibited proper physicochemical characteristics like good spreadability, extrudability, homogeneity, and neutral pH, and no skin irritation was observed during skin sensitivity studies. Conclusion: Alcoholic Extract of Tamraparna contains bioactive constituents exhibiting a more potent antioxidant potential than aqueous extract. 5% w/w gel formulation developed possesses good physicochemical characteristics indicating the suitability of the gel formulation as topical therapeutic preparation.
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Copyright (c) 2026 Priya Shukla, Laxmikant S D, Prashant G. Jadar, Veena B Kupati , Suketha Kumari, Bawadkar Prasad, Sanjay B Patil, Geeta Dandin, Priya P Shetti, Adavesh B Holeyache, Rahat Mulani, Anu Chahar
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