FORMULATION AND EVALUATION OF A CLEOME VISCOSA SEEDS EXTRACT-BASED TOPICAL GEL WITH COMBINED ANTI-INFLAMMATORY AND ANTIOXIDANT PROPERTIES.

Abstract

Cleome viscosa is a medicinal plant widely recognized in traditional medicine for managing inflammation, fever and skin-related conditions. Despite its extensive ethnopharmacological usage, scientific validation of its therapeutic claims remains limited. This study aimed to investigate the phytochemical composition, antioxidant activity and topical anti-inflammatory potential of C. viscosa seed extract, with an additional focus on the formulation and evaluation of its herbal gel. Seeds of C. viscosa were collected, authenticated, and subjected to methanol extraction. The extract underwent preliminary phytochemical screening to identify key bioactive constituents. Antioxidant potential was evaluated using the DPPH free radical scavenging assay. To assess topical anti-inflammatory activity, herbal gel containing 6%, 7%, and 8% extract concentrations were formulated and tested for stability and physicochemical properties. In vivo anti-inflammatory efficacy was tested using a carrageenan-induced paw edema model in Wistar rats, with diclofenac sodium gel used as a standard reference. Phytochemical analysis confirmed the presence of alkaloids, flavonoids, tannins, glycosides, steroids, saponins and fixed oils. The extract exhibited minimal antioxidant activity i.e. 16.72% scavenging at the highest tested concentration. However, notable topical anti-inflammatory effects were observed. Among the formulations, the 7% C. viscosa gel showed the highest inhibition of paw edema (11.24%), closely approximating the standard diclofenac gel (13.02%), suggesting a dose-dependent anti-inflammatory response. Despite weak antioxidant activity, C. viscosa demonstrated significant topical anti-inflammatory potential, supporting its traditional medicinal use. The 7% gel formulation proved both effective and stable, indicating its promise as a plant-based alternative for topical inflammation management and warranting further pharmacological investigation.