Physicochemical Investigation And Development Of Antimicrobial Herbal Cream Of Ficus Racemosa Linn. Leaf Extracts

Abstract

The Bark, fruit, leaf, root, latex and seeds of the Cluster fig, Ficus racemosa Linn belonging to family Moraceae has been widely used for the
treatment of various diseases like leprosy, diarrhoea, diabetes, menorrhagia, stomachache, cholera, mumps, haemorrhoids, boils, parotitis,
toothache, vaginal disorders, diarrhea, cancer, inflammatory and skin diseases etc. In this study, the extraction process was optimized using
solvents with different polarities towards obtaining high antimicrobial potential of selected leaves. Antimicrobial potential of chloroform,
acetone, ethanol, methanol and aqueous extracts and also subsequent re-extracted products obtained from latter four solvent extracts by
methanol(70%) & ethanol(70%) was investigated. Leaves of the plant was pharmacognostically characterized which helps in identification of
the plant species, dried powders were extracted with above mentioned solvents. phytochemical screening revealed that except chloroform
extract, other four extracts contain flavonoids(glycosides), aqueous extract contains tannins, sugar and saponins, alcoholics contain steroids,
terpenoids and phenolic compounds. Methanol(70%) & ethanol(70%) re-extracted fractions were found to contain most of the
phytochemicals. All extracts were investigated for antimicrobial activities. Cream bases were prepared and evaluated. Herbal creams of
selected extracts were prepared and antimicrobial potential was investigated by agar plate method comparing the activity with standard cream
such as soframycin and clotrimazole. O/W cream of methanol(70%) extract dispersed in DMSO showed highest activity in terms of zone of
inhibition against Klebsiella pneumonia(24.12mm), Staphylococcus aureus(23.42mm), Candida albicans(26.74mm) & Aspergillus
niger(25.78mm). This study confirmed that the methanol(70%) extract incorporated in O/W cream showed better antimicrobial activity due
to high content of phytochemicals.