1Department of Pharmacognosy, Progressive Education Society's Modern College of Pharmacy, Nigdi, Pune, Maharashtra, India-411044
2Department of Pharmacognosy, Marathwada Mitra Mandal College of Pharmacy, Thergaon, Pune, Maharashtra, India-411033
3Department of Pharmachemistry, Progressive Education Society's Modern College of Pharmacy, Nigdi, Pune, Maharashtra, India-411044
4Department of Quality Assurance, Progressive Education Society's Modern College of Pharmacy, Nigdi, Pune, Maharashtra, India-411044
Corresponding Author:
Dr. Mohini C. Kuchekar
Department of Pharmacognosy, Progressive Education Society's Modern College of Pharmacy, Nigdi, Pune, Maharashtra, India-411044
Email: mohini.kuchekar@gmail.com
Background: Acne vulgaris, primarily caused by Propionibacterium acnes colonization, affects a significant global population across adolescent and young adult age groups. Synthetic anti-acne formulations, while therapeutically effective, carry documented adverse effects including skin irritation, over-drying, hypersensitivity reactions, and disruption of skin barrier function. This investigation developed and evaluated herbal facewash gel formulations using natural phytoconstituents (colchicine, barbaloin, green tea extract, caffeine) as safer alternatives to conventional synthetic anti-acne products.
Material and Methods: Four individual herbal facewash gel formulations were prepared incorporating colchicine, barbaloin, green tea extract, and caffeine as active antimicrobial agents. Three additional combination formulations were developed employing colchicine and barbaloin in ratios of 1:1, 7:3, and 3:7. Comprehensive physicochemical characterization was conducted including pH determination, surface tension measurement, viscosity assessment, spreadability evaluation, foam production, foam stability testing, and sag/rinsability assessment. Antimicrobial activity was quantitatively evaluated against Propionibacterium acne (MTCC-1951) using agar well diffusion methodology at concentrations of 5%, 10%, 20%, and 40% (v/v).
Results: All individual herbal formulations exhibited physicochemical properties comparable to marketed anti-acne products, with pH values within the physiologically appropriate range (5.02–5.34), surface tension values of 34.2–38.59 dyne/cm, and viscosity ranging from 400–5500 cPas. Antimicrobial evaluation demonstrated colchicine and barbaloin as significantly superior anti-acne agents compared to green tea extract and caffeine. Critically, the colchicine: barbaloin formulation in 3:7 ratio demonstrated statistically superior antimicrobial activity against P. acnes, evidenced by significantly larger inhibition zones and highest R² values compared to 1:1 and 7:3 ratios and individual components.
Conclusions: This study successfully developed herbal facewash gels with optimized colchicine: barbaloin ratio (3:7) demonstrating superior anti-acne efficacy while maintaining acceptable physicochemical properties suitable for topical application. These formulations represent a scientifically validated alternative to synthetic anti-acne products, fulfilling emerging consumer demand for natural, safer plant-derived skin care therapeutics. The identified optimal formulation ratio provides a foundation for subsequent clinical efficacy studies in acne patient populations.
Keywords: Anti-acne; Antimicrobial evaluation; Barbaloin; Colchicine; Herbal facewash gel; Propionibacterium acnes.
How to cite this article: Kela G, Kuchekar M, Pimple B, Kadam P, Yadav K, Karanje A, Harde M, Swami O. Formulation and Antimicrobial Evaluation of Herbal Facewash Gels Containing Colchicine and Barbaloin Against Propionibacterium acnes with Optimization of Active Ingredient Ratios. Int J Drug Deliv Technol. 2026;16(6s): 538-547; DOI: 10.25258/ijddt.16.6s.79
Source of support: None
Conflict of interest: None