Quality assessment of ointment incorporated with Piper sarmentosum (Kaduk) leaves extract

Abstract

Plant based medication is known as one of the alternative methods in wound management with no or less side effects, as well as less expensive. Various products related to wounds are on the market mostly consist of various unnatural chemicals. Previous preliminary study and ethnopharmacological evidence of Piper sarmentosum (Kaduk) also showed that the plant is a good candidate to treat wounds. Thus, this project aims to evaluate an ointment incorporated with the P. sarmentosum aqueous extract as an alternative to treat wounds. Two type of ointments; hydrocarbon (oleaginous; ointment 1) and water removeable (oil-in-water; ointment 2) that incorporated with the plant extract were further assessed for its organoleptic, physicochemical properties, as well as its stability at different storage conditions. The findings showed that ointment 1 exhibited good physicochemical properties with a strong scent of extract. However, this ointment did not inhibit E. coli, S. aureus and B. subtilis in the antimicrobial test. The stability study that carried out for three weeks consecutively showed that ointment 1 (hydrophilic) was stable under chill storage condition (5 °C) and room temperature (25 °C) without phase separation, as well as insignificant change of odour, texture and pH value. However, the formulation was physically unstable at high temperature (45 °C). Meanwhile, ointment 2 (oil-in-water) significantly inhibited E. coli, S. aureus and B. subtilis possibly due to presence of parabens in the formulation., not melted at high temperature (45 °C), stable in pH, non-greasy and water-washable. However, the formulation was physically unstable, that it showed phase separation after heating, and harden in texture when compared to the commercial healing ointment (Brand: Zam Buk). Findings from this study could be an initial step for the future development of the effective, affordable and safe wound healing medication by related industries.