Document Type

Journal Article

Publication Date

2025

Keywords

Chinese medicinal plants, curcumin, anti-oxidant, anti-bacterial properties

Abstract

Background: Many cosmetic products possess anti-oxidant and anti-bacterial properties. However, they are chemically synthesized products. This research project focuses on “organic” and “natural” for skin care products. “Organic” is derived from living matter, such as the Chinese medicinal plant, “Curcuma longa L.” “Natural” exists in or is derived from nature, and is not made or caused by humankind, as these have some advantages. Purpose: The research aimed to design and develop a Chinese medicinal ointment using “natural curcumin extract powder (NCP)” with 98% purity of a bioactive ingredient, “curcumin,” as well as evaluate its anti-oxidant and anti-bacterial properties. The NCP ointments have active ingredients with different percentages, including 1%, 3%, and 5%, compared to Thailand’s commercial “extract curcuma” (TP) product. Materials and Methods: These Chinese medicinal NCP ointments were conducted with four qualitative and quantitative tests, such as physical (creams or ointments selection and pH), chemical experiments for structural determination and isolation of an active ingredient (phytochem constituents, ultraviolet–visible [UV–vis] and high-performance liquid chromatography- diode array detector [HPLC-DAD] or high-performance liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry [HPLC-MS]), anti-oxidant properties (DPPH assay), and biological anti-bacterial properties (agar assay) against Staphylococcus aureus. Results: NCP ointments were made by mixing “curcumin” and “emulsifying ointment BP.” The pH values of 1%, 3%, and 5% NCP ointments were 5.83 ± 0.02, 5.67 ± 0.04, and 5.43 ± 0.04, which were more acidic and similar to TP ointment. These showed positive results on the lead tetra acetic acid test and the Horizon test, indicating the presence of alkaloids, phenolic, and terpenoids, respectively, but TP ointment showed a negative result on the Horizon test. The NCP ointments were confirmed by the UV–vis with a broad peak absorption at 425 nm, and identified by the HPLC-DAD and HPLC-MS through the calculations to ensure the concentrations of 1%, 3%, and 5% NCP ointments. In contrast, TP ointment cannot be confirmed to contain the active ingredient, “curcumin.” NCP ointments possessed DPPH scavenging with 19.07% ± 0.0012%, 28.42% ± 0.012%, and 49.01% ± 0.0055%, respectively. The DPPH scavenging of 5% NCP ointment was twice that of TP ointment. 1%, 3%, and 5% NCP, TP ointments with anti-bacterial properties were 165.67 ± 4.04, 141.33 ± 5.51, 88.00 ± 9.85, and 4.00 ± 1.00. These inhibited the growth of S. aureus, and the anti-bacterial properties were much lower than those of the TP ointment. Conclusion: 1%, 3%, and 5% NCP ointments have been successfully developed and confirmed by the analysis of UV–vis, HPLC-DAD, and HPLC-MS. The NCP ointments have anti-oxidant and anti-bacterial properties. However, because the components differ, NCP ointments have higher anti-oxidants but lower anti-bacterial properties than TP ointments. TP ointment is alcohol-based, whereas NCP ointments are “organic-based” and “natural-based,” which possess the equivalent skin care functions concerning the targets of this research project.

Source Publication

Pharmacognosy Magazine

First Page

1

Last Page

11

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