Development and Evaluation of Stability of a Gel Formulation Containing the Monoterpene Borneol

Abstract EN

Borneol is a bicyclic monoterpenoid alcohol commonly used in traditional Chinese and Indian medicine.

It is extracted from the essential oil of various medicinal plants.

It has antibacterial, analgesic, and anti-inflammatory action proven in studies that used oral and intraperitoneal applications of this monoterpene in mice.

The current study was designed to develop a topical gel formulation containing the monoterpene borneol using carbopol as gel base and to evaluate its stability.

The prepared formulation was subjected to physical characterization and physical-chemistry assessment.

The gel was prepared from carbopol and 5% of borneol.

The prepared gel was subjected to pharmacotechnical tests such as its pH, viscosity, conductivity, spreadability, centrifugation, and accelerated stability with freezing-thaw cycle.

The borneol was successfully incorporated into the carbopol formulation.

Borneol gel (BG5) showed good stability after eight months of its development and after 12 days in the freeze-thaw cycle, not showing statistical difference in pH value, conductivity, and viscosity before and after test.

Furthermore, the formulation showed a good spreadability.

Therefore, it was concluded that the formulation could be very promising alternative for the topical or transdermal treatment of skin diseases.