Pharmaceutical formulation and evaluation of Xylopia aethiopica fruit-based topical ointment and cream

Abstract

For centuries, humans have long sought plant-based remedies derived from barks, seeds, and fruits in their enduring battle against illness. Over time, traditional medicines have evolved to become more effective and safer through pharmacological validation. One key area where these remedies have shown promise is in treating skin infections, as the skin is often the first point of contact for microorganisms and particularly vulnerable to infections caused by bacteria, fungi, viruses, and parasites. Currently, topical infections are primarily treated using ointments and creams, which deliver high concentrations of antimicrobials directly to the affected area. Studies reveal that ethanolic extracts have potent antibacterial activity against Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Staphylococcus species. This effect is ascribed to moderate to high concentrations of saponins, known for their antibacterial qualities. The present study investigates the antibacterial properties of ethanolic and aqueous extracts of Xylopia aethiopica for the formulation of a topical ointment. To determine their minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs), cultures of Staphylococcus aureus and P. aeruginosa were tested against the extracts, which exhibited MIC values ranging from 2.5 mg/mL to 10 mg/mL for both the ethanolic and aqueous forms. The ointments and creams formulated from these extracts demonstrated notable antibacterial activity, alongside excellent physicochemical properties, including a smooth texture, appealing appearance, uniform consistency with no phase separation, characteristic brown color, excellent spreadability, stability, and suitable pH values (6.3 for the ointment and 7 for the cream), as well as non-irratating effects on the skin. The findings confirm that X. aethiopica possesses effective antibacterial properties against S. aureus and P. aeruginosa, supporting its potential for further in vivo studies and broader therapeutic applications.

Keywords

Traditional medicine / Microorganisms / Pharmacological / Xylopia aethiopica / Antibacterial / Staphylococcus aureu / Pseudomonas aeruginosa

Acknowledgments

The authors are grateful to the technical staff of the Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Central University, for their assistance in the laboratory.

Funding

None.

Conflict of interest

The authors declare that they have no competing interests.

Author contributions

Conceptualization: Christina Osei-Asare, Frederick William Akuffo Owusu

Formal analysis: Dickson Aboagye, Emmanuel Akambase

Investigation: Andrew Quarshie, Dorcas Manu Asiama

Methodology: Christina Osei-Asare, Andrew Quarshie, Dorcas Manu Asiama

Writing - original draft: Emmanuel Akambase, Andrew Quarshie, Dorcas Manu Asiama

Writing - review & editing: Christina Osei-Asare, Dickson Aboagye, Frederick William Akuffo Owusu

Ethics approval and consent to participate

This study was approved by the Central University Institutional Review Board (CU-IRB), with approval number CU-IRB/PHARM/2024/012. All participants involved in the product evaluation provided verbal informed consent before participation. The study was conducted in accordance with the ethical standards outlined in the Declaration of Helsinki.

Consent for publication

Not applicable.

Availability of data

The datasets used during the current study are available from the corresponding author upon request.

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