Novel Alkyl-Polyglucoside-Based Topical Creams Containing Basil Essential Oil (<i>Ocimum basilicum</i> L. Lamiaceae): Assessment of Physical, Mechanical, and Sensory Characteristics

<b>Background/Objectives:</b> Basil essential oil exhibits a wide range of biological activities, including strong antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory effects. Considering the health benefits of basil essential oil (BEO) and the favorable properties of alkyl polyglucoside emulsifiers, no...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Ana Barjaktarević, Georgeta Coneac, Snežana Cupara, Olivera Kostić, Marina Kostić, Ioana Olariu, Vicenţiu Vlaia, Ana-Maria Cotan, Ştefania Neamu, Lavinia Vlaia
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-07-01
Series:Pharmaceutics
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/1999-4923/17/7/934
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
_version_ 1849733404737667072
author Ana Barjaktarević
Georgeta Coneac
Snežana Cupara
Olivera Kostić
Marina Kostić
Ioana Olariu
Vicenţiu Vlaia
Ana-Maria Cotan
Ştefania Neamu
Lavinia Vlaia
author_facet Ana Barjaktarević
Georgeta Coneac
Snežana Cupara
Olivera Kostić
Marina Kostić
Ioana Olariu
Vicenţiu Vlaia
Ana-Maria Cotan
Ştefania Neamu
Lavinia Vlaia
author_sort Ana Barjaktarević
collection DOAJ
description <b>Background/Objectives:</b> Basil essential oil exhibits a wide range of biological activities, including strong antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory effects. Considering the health benefits of basil essential oil (BEO) and the favorable properties of alkyl polyglucoside emulsifiers, novel Montanov™-68-based O/W creams containing BEO were developed and characterized. Additionally, the influence of the emulsifier content on the cream’s properties was evaluated. <b>Methods</b>: The physicochemical properties were evaluated by organoleptic examination, physical stability test, and pH and electrical conductivity measurement. The mechanical properties were investigated by rheological, textural, and consistency analyses. In addition, a sensory evaluation protocol was applied. <b>Results</b>: The cream formulations containing 5% and 7% Montanov™ 68 demonstrated physical stability, with no evidence of phase separation during the observation period or following accelerated aging. The pH values remained within the acceptable range for topical use, and a gradual decrease in electrical conductivity over time was observed. The rheological analyses confirmed the non-Newtonian pseudoplastic behavior with thixotropic flow characteristics. The textural analyses demonstrated that the higher emulsifier content led to increased firmness, consistency, cohesiveness, and index of viscosity. The sensory analysis revealed differences between the alkyl polyglucoside (APG)-based cream formulations only in terms of the elasticity and stickiness. <b>Conclusions</b>: Although the rheological analyses suggested the better spreadability of the formulation with 5% emulsifier, this was not confirmed by the sensory analysis. However, the APG-based formulations performed significantly better than the synthetic surfactant-based formulation in terms of the absorption, stickiness, and greasiness (during and after application). These results are encouraging for the further evaluation of APG-based creams containing basil essential oil for topical application.
format Article
id doaj-art-0e124e51e8db4282b6bb4a31a82ccf2b
institution DOAJ
issn 1999-4923
language English
publishDate 2025-07-01
publisher MDPI AG
record_format Article
series Pharmaceutics
spelling doaj-art-0e124e51e8db4282b6bb4a31a82ccf2b2025-08-20T03:08:02ZengMDPI AGPharmaceutics1999-49232025-07-0117793410.3390/pharmaceutics17070934Novel Alkyl-Polyglucoside-Based Topical Creams Containing Basil Essential Oil (<i>Ocimum basilicum</i> L. Lamiaceae): Assessment of Physical, Mechanical, and Sensory CharacteristicsAna Barjaktarević0Georgeta Coneac1Snežana Cupara2Olivera Kostić3Marina Kostić4Ioana Olariu5Vicenţiu Vlaia6Ana-Maria Cotan7Ştefania Neamu8Lavinia Vlaia9Department of Pharmacy, Faculty of Medical Sciences, University of Kragujevac, 34000 Kragujevac, SerbiaDepartment II—Pharmaceutical Technology, Formulation and Technology of Drugs Research Center, Faculty of Pharmacy, “Victor Babeș” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 300041 Timișoara, RomaniaDepartment of Pharmacy, Faculty of Medical Sciences, University of Kragujevac, 34000 Kragujevac, SerbiaDepartment of Pharmacy, Faculty of Medical Sciences, University of Kragujevac, 34000 Kragujevac, SerbiaCenter for Harm Reduction of Biological and Chemical Hazards, Faculty of Medical Sciences, University of Kragujevac, 34000 Kragujevac, SerbiaDepartment II—Pharmaceutical Technology, Formulation and Technology of Drugs Research Center, Faculty of Pharmacy, “Victor Babeș” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 300041 Timișoara, RomaniaDepartment II—Organic Chemistry, Formulation and Technology of Drugs Research Center, Faculty of Pharmacy, “Victor Babeș” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 300041 Timișoara, RomaniaDepartment II—Pharmaceutical Technology, Formulation and Technology of Drugs Research Center, Faculty of Pharmacy, “Victor Babeș” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 300041 Timișoara, RomaniaDepartment II—Pharmaceutical Technology, Formulation and Technology of Drugs Research Center, Faculty of Pharmacy, “Victor Babeș” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 300041 Timișoara, RomaniaDepartment II—Pharmaceutical Technology, Formulation and Technology of Drugs Research Center, Faculty of Pharmacy, “Victor Babeș” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 300041 Timișoara, Romania<b>Background/Objectives:</b> Basil essential oil exhibits a wide range of biological activities, including strong antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory effects. Considering the health benefits of basil essential oil (BEO) and the favorable properties of alkyl polyglucoside emulsifiers, novel Montanov™-68-based O/W creams containing BEO were developed and characterized. Additionally, the influence of the emulsifier content on the cream’s properties was evaluated. <b>Methods</b>: The physicochemical properties were evaluated by organoleptic examination, physical stability test, and pH and electrical conductivity measurement. The mechanical properties were investigated by rheological, textural, and consistency analyses. In addition, a sensory evaluation protocol was applied. <b>Results</b>: The cream formulations containing 5% and 7% Montanov™ 68 demonstrated physical stability, with no evidence of phase separation during the observation period or following accelerated aging. The pH values remained within the acceptable range for topical use, and a gradual decrease in electrical conductivity over time was observed. The rheological analyses confirmed the non-Newtonian pseudoplastic behavior with thixotropic flow characteristics. The textural analyses demonstrated that the higher emulsifier content led to increased firmness, consistency, cohesiveness, and index of viscosity. The sensory analysis revealed differences between the alkyl polyglucoside (APG)-based cream formulations only in terms of the elasticity and stickiness. <b>Conclusions</b>: Although the rheological analyses suggested the better spreadability of the formulation with 5% emulsifier, this was not confirmed by the sensory analysis. However, the APG-based formulations performed significantly better than the synthetic surfactant-based formulation in terms of the absorption, stickiness, and greasiness (during and after application). These results are encouraging for the further evaluation of APG-based creams containing basil essential oil for topical application.https://www.mdpi.com/1999-4923/17/7/934basil essential oilalkyl polyglucosidecreamsphysicochemicalmechanicalsensory properties
spellingShingle Ana Barjaktarević
Georgeta Coneac
Snežana Cupara
Olivera Kostić
Marina Kostić
Ioana Olariu
Vicenţiu Vlaia
Ana-Maria Cotan
Ştefania Neamu
Lavinia Vlaia
Novel Alkyl-Polyglucoside-Based Topical Creams Containing Basil Essential Oil (<i>Ocimum basilicum</i> L. Lamiaceae): Assessment of Physical, Mechanical, and Sensory Characteristics
Pharmaceutics
basil essential oil
alkyl polyglucoside
creams
physicochemical
mechanical
sensory properties
title Novel Alkyl-Polyglucoside-Based Topical Creams Containing Basil Essential Oil (<i>Ocimum basilicum</i> L. Lamiaceae): Assessment of Physical, Mechanical, and Sensory Characteristics
title_full Novel Alkyl-Polyglucoside-Based Topical Creams Containing Basil Essential Oil (<i>Ocimum basilicum</i> L. Lamiaceae): Assessment of Physical, Mechanical, and Sensory Characteristics
title_fullStr Novel Alkyl-Polyglucoside-Based Topical Creams Containing Basil Essential Oil (<i>Ocimum basilicum</i> L. Lamiaceae): Assessment of Physical, Mechanical, and Sensory Characteristics
title_full_unstemmed Novel Alkyl-Polyglucoside-Based Topical Creams Containing Basil Essential Oil (<i>Ocimum basilicum</i> L. Lamiaceae): Assessment of Physical, Mechanical, and Sensory Characteristics
title_short Novel Alkyl-Polyglucoside-Based Topical Creams Containing Basil Essential Oil (<i>Ocimum basilicum</i> L. Lamiaceae): Assessment of Physical, Mechanical, and Sensory Characteristics
title_sort novel alkyl polyglucoside based topical creams containing basil essential oil i ocimum basilicum i l lamiaceae assessment of physical mechanical and sensory characteristics
topic basil essential oil
alkyl polyglucoside
creams
physicochemical
mechanical
sensory properties
url https://www.mdpi.com/1999-4923/17/7/934
work_keys_str_mv AT anabarjaktarevic novelalkylpolyglucosidebasedtopicalcreamscontainingbasilessentialoiliocimumbasilicumillamiaceaeassessmentofphysicalmechanicalandsensorycharacteristics
AT georgetaconeac novelalkylpolyglucosidebasedtopicalcreamscontainingbasilessentialoiliocimumbasilicumillamiaceaeassessmentofphysicalmechanicalandsensorycharacteristics
AT snezanacupara novelalkylpolyglucosidebasedtopicalcreamscontainingbasilessentialoiliocimumbasilicumillamiaceaeassessmentofphysicalmechanicalandsensorycharacteristics
AT oliverakostic novelalkylpolyglucosidebasedtopicalcreamscontainingbasilessentialoiliocimumbasilicumillamiaceaeassessmentofphysicalmechanicalandsensorycharacteristics
AT marinakostic novelalkylpolyglucosidebasedtopicalcreamscontainingbasilessentialoiliocimumbasilicumillamiaceaeassessmentofphysicalmechanicalandsensorycharacteristics
AT ioanaolariu novelalkylpolyglucosidebasedtopicalcreamscontainingbasilessentialoiliocimumbasilicumillamiaceaeassessmentofphysicalmechanicalandsensorycharacteristics
AT vicentiuvlaia novelalkylpolyglucosidebasedtopicalcreamscontainingbasilessentialoiliocimumbasilicumillamiaceaeassessmentofphysicalmechanicalandsensorycharacteristics
AT anamariacotan novelalkylpolyglucosidebasedtopicalcreamscontainingbasilessentialoiliocimumbasilicumillamiaceaeassessmentofphysicalmechanicalandsensorycharacteristics
AT stefanianeamu novelalkylpolyglucosidebasedtopicalcreamscontainingbasilessentialoiliocimumbasilicumillamiaceaeassessmentofphysicalmechanicalandsensorycharacteristics
AT laviniavlaia novelalkylpolyglucosidebasedtopicalcreamscontainingbasilessentialoiliocimumbasilicumillamiaceaeassessmentofphysicalmechanicalandsensorycharacteristics