International Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences

INT.J.PH.SCI.,MAY-AUG, 2010;2(2):551-555
ISSN 0975-4725
www.ijps.info

Original Research Manuscript

FORMULATION AND EVALUATION OF ALOE VERA TOPICAL GELS

Jyotsana Madan*, Ramnik Singh**

*Sinhgad College of Pharmacy, Vadgaon (Bk), Pune -41. **Khalsa College of Pharmacy, Amritsar-143002, Punjab, India
Correspondence e-mail address: Ramnik Singh, Assistant Prof., Khalsa College of Pharmacy, Amritsar,
E-mail : ramnik1144@yahoo.co.in, 09855007046, 09420148817- Jyotsana Madan*, Asst.Prof., jrmadan@hotmail.com

ABSTRACT
Topical delivery systems of aloe vera gel were formulated using polymers like HPMC, Carbopol 934P, Methylcellulose and
Sodium alginate. The gels were evaluated for various physicochemical parameters like pH, viscosity, drug content and spreadability. In
addition, in- vitro permeation studies through cellulose membrane and antimicrobial activity of the formulated gels was also performed.
Formulations prepared using Carbopol934P shows desired properties and exhibit better release pattern.
Keywords: Aloe vera, Carbopol 934P, methylcellulose, HPMC, sodium alginate, antimicrobial activity, in-vitro permeation study.

INTRODUCTION plant. The gel has been reported to possess immunomodulatory,

Gels are transparent to opaque semisolids containing gelling
agent that merges or entangles to form a three-dimensional
colloidal network structure. It is responsible for gel resistance to
deformation and its visco-elastic properties.1 Gels have better
potential as a vehicle to administer drug topically in comparison
to ointment, because they are non-sticky, require low energy
during formulation, are stable and have aesthetic value. Skin
injuries (major and minor) or local infection can best be treated
by application of product that form transparent water vapour and
air permeable film over the skin surface from which the drug
releases continuously from the application site.
Aloe vera is a tropical or sub tropical plant of the genus aloe. The
leaves which are lance-shaped with sharp points, contain an
essentially clear viscous gel known as aloe vera gel(AVG). It is
the mucilaginous jelly obtained from the parenchyma cells of the
anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, antifungal, UV protective,
wound and burn healing promoting properties.2 Therefore, the
present study was conducted to formulate a suitable topical
AVG gel formulation using different gelling agents like Carbopol
934P, HPMC, Methylcellulose and sodium alginate along with
wheat germ oil as emollient. The prepared gels were evaluated
for appearance, pH, content uniformity, viscosity, spreadability,
invitro permeation study and antimicrobial activity.
EXPERIMENTAL
Materials
Plant material
A. vera plants were collected(March 2003) and authenticated
from Medicinal Plant Research and Development Centre, Govind
Pant University of Agriculture and Technology, Pantnagar

551 Int.J.Ph.Sci., May-August 2010;2(2):

Jyotsana Madan et al: FORMULATION AND EVALUATION OF ALOE VERA TOPICAL GELS
(Uttarakhand), India. A voucher specimen (AV-8) has been
retained in our museum for future reference.
Chemicals
Carbopol 934P, sodium alginate were purchased from Loba
Chemie , HPMC (4000 cps), methycellulose from S.D. Fine
Chemicals, Mumbai, cellulose membrane (Sigma Chemical
Company, USA) and Agar from Hi-Media. All other chemicals
used were of analytical grade and used as procured.
Methods
Preparation of freeze dried Aloe vera gel:
The inner mucilaginous parenchymatous tissues of leaves of aloe
vera plants were separated out with the help of sterile knife. This
mucilaginous, viscous parenchymatous tissue was homogenized
in a blender at maximum 30 rpm. This homogenized mass was
separated by G3 sintered glass filter with the help of vacuum and
further freeze dried with the help of lyophilizer. The ratio of
AVG and lyophilized powder was 40:1.
Development of gels: All the formulations were prepared using
freshly boiled and cooled distilled water as per the composition
listed in Table 1.
Methyl and propyl paraben were dissolved in distilled water prior
to the addition of the gelling agents. Carbopol gels were prepared
by soaking Carbopol 934P in water and then neutralizing it with
18% w/v Sodium hydroxide. HPMC and methyl cellulose gels
were prepared by dispersing the polymers in distilled water with
continuous stirring and then warming it to get the gel. Gels
containing sodium alginate were prepared by triturating and then
soaking it in distilled water. The freeze dried aloe vera gel, the
wheat germ oil and disodium EDTA were incorporated with
trituration, after partial gelling was accomplished.
Evaluation of formulated gels: Prepared AVG gels were
evaluated for appearance, pH, drug content uniformity, viscosity,
spreadability, permeability studies and antimicrobial activity. All
the gels were visually inspected for clarity, colour homogeneity,
presence of particles and fibers.
552
Appearance: The AVG gels having Carbopol 934P and HPMC
were milky white and yellowish transparent respectively. Sodium
alginate and methyl cellulose gels were opaque in appearance.
Determination of pH: The pH values(Table 2) of 1% aqueous
solutions of the prepared gels were checked by using a calibrated
digital pH meter (Sartorius, FEJ-100) at constant temperature.
Drug content uniformity: The colorimetric determination of
glucomannan in the AVG was used as the method for
determining drug content uniformity.3 The prepared gels
equivalent to 2 mg of freeze dried aloe gel was weighed
accurately and dissolved in 100 ml of distilled water and filtered.
From this solution 0.4 ml was transferred to a 10 ml test tube. To
this 4 ml of congo red reagent (0.01 %) was added with mild
vortexing. The same mixture was left at room temperature for 20
min. Absorbance was measured at 540 nm wavelength. Amount
of glucomannan was calculated by interpolating the standard
curve(r2 =0.9747)
Viscosity: Viscosity was measured by placing 100 gm sample
(allowed to settle for 5 mins) in sample holder of Brookfield
viscometer [ Spindle no. 6 at 10 rpm].
Spreadablity: Spreadability of the formulation was determined
by an apparatus(slightly modified) suggested by Mutimer et al.4
It consists of a wooden block and provided with a pulley at one
end. A rectangular ground glass plate was fixed on the wooden
block. Excess of gel (about 2gm) under study was placed on this
ground glass plate, and then the gel was sandwiched between
this plate and another glass plate having the dimensions of the
ground glass plate attached with a hook. A 300 gm weight was
placed on the top of the two plates for 5 minutes to expel air and
to provide a uniform film of the gel between the plates. Excess of
the gel was scrapped off from the edges. The top plate was then
subjected to a pull of 30 gm with the help of a string attached to
the hook and the time (in second) required by the top plate to
cover a distance of 10cm was noted. The spreadability was
calculated using the formula :
Int.J.Ph.Sci., May-August 2010;2(2):
Jyotsana Madan et al: FORMULATION AND EVALUATION OF ALOE VERA TOPICAL GELS
S=ml/t, where, S=Spreadability, m=Weight tied to the upper
glass slide, l=length of the glass slide and t=time taken in
seconds.
In-vitro skin permeation study: This study was done using the
Keshary-Chien diffusion cell5. Cellulose membranes were used
as permeation barrier. The gel sample was placed on the donor
compartment and covered with aluminium foil to prevent drying.
The receptor compartment was filled with the receptor phase
(degassed,de-ionised water).The temperature of receptor phase
was maintained at 37 1C. throughout the experiment. The
compartment was in contact with ambient condition of
environment. The amount of drug permeated through the
membrane was determined by withdrawing samples at
predetermined time intervals for 12 hours and replacing with the
same volume of prewarmed (37 1C) receptor solution to
maintain sink conditions. The samples were analysed for amount
of glucomannan. Blanks are run for each set as described above
with placebo gel and calculated accordingly.
Antimicrobial activity : Antimicrobial study of the formulated
gels was conducted by ditch plate technique.6 It is a technique
used for evaluation of bacteriostatic and fungistatic activity of a
compound and is mainly used for semisolid formulations. Agar
plates were prepared and sterilized as per standard procedure. A
ditch (2.5x0.5cm) was made in the centre of agar plate and was
filled by test formulations (0.5gm). The prepared culture loops
(E.coli, S. aureus) were streaked across the agar at a right angle
fro the ditch to the edge of the plate. A standard containing
gentamycin and control plates containing gel without AVG
0
were also prepared. After incubation for 18-24 hours at 25 C,
the bacterial growth was observed and the percentage inhibition
was measured as follows :
% Inhibition=L2 /L1x100, where, L1=Total length of the streaked
culture, and L2=Length of inhibition.
Results and Discussion
553
The various parameters evaluated for gels are represented in
Table 2. The pH of all gel formulations was found between 6.9-
7.3, which lies in normal pH range of the skin. All the prepared
gel formulations showed uniformity in drug content
(glucomannan) and were within permissible range indicating the
uniformity of drug dispersion in the gels. In antimicrobial study,
percentage inhibition was taken as measure of antimicrobial
activity. All the formulations exhibited antimicrobial activity
against S.aureus and E.coli.(Table:3)
Viscosity is an important parameter for characterizing the gels as
it affect the spreadability and release of the drug. 7 The addition
of disodium EDTA is essential for an aloe vera gel formula in
order to help prevent viscosity loss caused by metallic cations
and ions which are present in the aloe. This is particularly
important for a clear product that may be exposed to heat and
sunlight.8 The viscosity was decreasing in the order of
HPMC<Carbopol<Methylcellulose<Sodium alginate.
AVG(H)<AVG(C)<AVG(M)<AVG(A)} Spreadability is the
parameter which will help in the uniform application of gel to
the skin. A good gel takes less time to spread and will have high
spreadability. The spreadability of formulated gels was found to
decrease with increase in viscosity.
The major component of freeze dried aloe vera gel are
polysaccharides(glucomannan). Aloe polysaccharides have
shown to exhibit other biological activities and act synergistically
with other compounds in aloe.9 In vitro permeation of
glucomannan from all prepared gel formulation was found to be
slow and extended over a 12 hour period. The permeation rate
was in the order of Carbopol> HPMC>Methylcellulose>Sodium
alginate gel as shown in Figure 1. The highest permeation of
glucomannan from carbopol gels (85.42%) could be attributed to
more swellability of carbopol when compared to the other
polymers. The basic invitro data was plotted according to
Higuchis equation and the plots were found to be fairly linear
with their high regression coefficient(r2=0.976-0.941) indicating
diffusion controlled mechanism.10 The results reveal that the total
amount of glucomannan permeated from the formulations was
dependent on the nature of the polymer used, viscosity as well as
the consistency of the formulations. Based on the
Int.J.Ph.Sci., May-August 2010;2(2):
Jyotsana Madan et al: FORMULATION AND EVALUATION OF ALOE VERA TOPICAL GELS

physicochemical properties and drug release, Carbopol 934P was
found to be a suitable gelling agent for AVG.
CONCLUSION
Aloe vera topical gels were developed using various polymers.
All the gels showed good physico-chemical properties. The
antimicrobial activity of these gel formulations is comparable to
the standard. These results suggest the feasibility of the topical
gel of aloe vera. However preclinical studies of these
formulations needs to be done.

Table 1: Composition of gel formulations of Aloe vera

S. No Ingredients AVG(C) AVG(H) AVG(M) AVGA(A)

1. Aloe vera gel* (g) 2.5 2.5 2.5 2.5
2. Carbopol 934P (g) 0.8 - - -
3. Sodium hydroxide** (ml) q.s - - -
4. HPMC(4000 cps)*** (g) - 3.5 - -
5. Methyl Cellulose (g) - - 5.0 -
6. Sodium alginate (g) - - - 8
7. Disodium EDTA (g) 0.2 0.2 0.2 0.2
8. Wheat germ oil (g) 1 1 1 1
9. Methyl paraben (g) 0.2 0.2 0.2 0.2
10. Propyl paraben (g) 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.1
11. Distilled water (q.s) (g) 100 100 100 100
*Freeze dried, **18%w/w solution; ***Hydroxy Propyl Methyl Cellulose; AVG= aloe vera gel.

Table 2: Evaluation of gel formulation of Aloe vera

Parameters
Formulation Code
pH* Glucomannan content %* Viscosity (cps)* Spreadability
AVG(C) 7.3+0.02 97.60 +0.45 16820 +150 11.68
AVG(H) 7.2+0.03 93.31 +0.32 14680 +125 12.98
AVG(M) 7.1+0.02 94.90 +0.23 19980 +150 9.88
AVG(A) 6.9+0.01 96..40 +71 24770 +100 8.34
*Values are mean + S.D, n; 3

Table 3: Antimicrobial activity of Gel Formulations and Gentamycin gel

Mean zone of inhibition (mm)* (n=3)

Formulations
S. aureus E. coli
Gentamycin gel 30+0.1 200.2
AVG(C) 25+0.2 180.2
AVG(H) 19+0.1 170.1
AVG(M) 23+0.1 140.1
AVG(A) 22+0.2 90.2
*Values are mean + S.D, n= 3

554 Int.J.Ph.Sci., May-August 2010;2(2):

Jyotsana Madan et al: FORMULATION AND EVALUATION OF ALOE VERA TOPICAL GELS

100

Cummulative % permeated 80

60

40

20

0
0 2 4 6 8 10 12
Time (Hours)
Carbopol HPMC Methyl cellulose Sodium Alginate

Figure: 1
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