Formulation and Evaluation of Anti microbial Dusting Powder

Abstract

Dusting powders are powder in fine state of subdivision that can be used for external
application to areas where skin is intact. Dusting powder should have: Free flowability,
easy spreadability, non – irritability, non – grittiness, good absorption and adsorption,
compatible with skin secretions. An antimicrobial is an agent that kills microorganisms or
inhibit their growth antimicrobial susceptibility testing can be used for drug discovery,
epidemiology and prediction of therapeutic outcome. In this research, we focused on the
use of antimicrobial testing method for the in vitro investigation of extracts as potential
antimicrobial agent. In the present study Calotropis procera, Aegle marmelos and
Annona squomosa plant leaves were selected to prepare poly herbal antimicrobial dusting
powder. The plants selected for complete study was based on its easy availability, degree
of research work which is not done and folkore claiming its therapeutic activity as
antimicrobial. Hydro-alcoholic extract of leaves were subjected to preliminary
phytochemical screening for possible presence of bioactive antimicrobial compounds.
Dusting powder formulations F1 and F2 were prepared using leaves fine powder.
Evaluation was carried o ut using parameters like Flow Property, Determination of pH,
Moisture content, Ash values, Extractive values and Irritancy test. Antimicrobial
susceptibility testing was done by Agar diffusion method (Cup plate method) using
‘Staphylococcus aureus’ a gram positive bacteria and standard as Neomycin powder.
Antimicrobial activity of both sample (i.e F1 & F2) was less as compared to standard. But the sample F2 shows more antimicrobial
activity than F1. Also the leaves of three plants contain the tannins, alkaloids and as per results, the formulation shows the
antimicrobial activity. Thus, the formulation can be used as antimicrobial dusting powder.