PREPARATION OF CREAMS

CHITEKA NYASHA

PHARMACY

SCHOOL OF INDUSTRIAL SCIENCES AND TECHNOLOGY

HARARE INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY

P. BAG BE277, BELVEDERE, HARARE

21 OCTOBER 2015
Abstract

The experiment was performed so as to formulate a pharmaceutical cream that can be used to
alleviate dermatophytotic infections caused by bacteria or fungi. The cream was formulated
by weighing the required amounts of Azadirachta indica tincture, borax, sunflower oil, white
beeswax, and white soft paraffin. Beeswax, white soft paraffin and sunflower oil were melted
in a beaker and then mixed with the melted mixture of borax and the tincture. The aqueous
solution was added to the oily solution because the aim was to formulate a water in oil semi-
solid emulsion. In some cases, it is recommended to stir the mixture sufficiently to ensure
uniform distribution of the active ingredient throughout the external phase.

Key words: Azadirachta indica, tincture, borax, beeswax, dermatophytotic

Introduction

The function of a skin cream is to protect the skin against harshness from the environment
and any dry conditions of the skin. A skin cream should aid the skin in carrying out its
normal functions, that is, restoring moisture to dry skin, allowing the elimination of waste
matter through the pores, and the cooling of the body by evaporation of water (perspiration)
and radiation, thus aiding in the maintenance of the normal body temperature. If the cream
clogs the pores of the skin with heavy, insoluble, inert material, it results in a thick sticky
coating on the skin and prevents sufficient normal skin function, being detrimental to health.

Skin creams contain a variety of ingredients that range from common, such as mineral oil, to
the exotic, such as placenta extract. Some skin creams may contain small amounts of
vitamins or other “nutrients”. A basic and satisfactory skin cream can be prepared from
stearic acid, lanolin, mineral oil, triethanolamine, and water. A cream can be easily made
using emulsifying ointment, which is a mixture of oils and waxes that blends with water or
tinctures. Home-made creams will last for several months, but the shelf-life is prolonged by
storing the mixture in a cool place or refrigerator or by adding a few drops of benzoin tincture
as a preservative. Creams made from organic ols and fats deteriorate more quickly. The
purpose of this experiment to prepare a skin cream from a tincture made from Azadirachta
indica, borax, sunflower oil, white beeswax and white soft paraffin. Skin creams contain
ingredients for adding body, improving texture, emulsifying the oil and water components,
raising the melting point, improving the spreadability, improving the odor, softening the skin,
and providing various medicinal properties.
 Procedure

1. Using an analytical balance 25g of Beeswax, 25g white soft paraffin were weighed
and placed in a beaker.
2. Using a 100ml measuring cylinder, 100ml of sunflower oil were measured and placed
in the beaker containing white soft paraffin and beeswax.
3. Using an analytical balance, 4g of borax were weighed and placed in a beaker
4. Using a measuring cylinder, 48ml of a tincture prepared from Azadiracha indica were
measured and placed in a beaker containing borax.
5. The beeswax, white soft paraffin and sunflower oil were melted in a water bath at
70oC
6. The borax was dissolved in the tincture with the aid of heat in a water bath at 70oC
7. The aqueous solution was added to the oily one while continuously stirring for 5 to 10
minutes in a water bath.
8. The mixture was removed from the water bath and stirring was continued until the
mixture was cold.
9. The cream was transferred to suitable container and labelled

Results

A cream was obtained

Label used on the cream

FOR EXTERNAL USE ONLY

Azadirachta indica cream (200g)

Composition: Azadirachta indica tincture 24% v/v

Borax 2% w /v
Sunflower oil 50% w /v
White beeswax 12.5 % w /v
White soft paraffin 12.5 % w /v

Use: used as an antifungal, antibacterial to treat dermatophytotic infections

Dosage : Apply 2 or 3 times a day to affected areas

DOM: 21 October 2015

DOE: 21 October 2017

Storage: store in a cool dry place away from children

Discussion

During the practical, the aqueous solution was added to the oily one rather than adding the
oily one to the aqueous one because our aim was to get a water in oil semi-solid emulsion
Creams are semi-solid emulsions, that is mixtures of oil and water. They are divided into two
types: oil-in-water (O/W) creams which are composed of small droplets of oil dispersed in a
continuous phase, and water-in-oil (W/O) creams which are composed of small droplets of
water dispersed in a continuous oily phase. Oil-in-water creams are more comfortable and
cosmetically acceptable as they are less greasy and more easily washed off using water.
Water-in-oil creams are more difficult to handle but many drugs which are incorporated into
creams are hydrophobic and will be released more readily from a water-in-oil cream than an
oil-in-water cream. Water-in-oil creams are also more moisturising as they provide an oily
barrier which reduces water loss from the stratum corneum, the outermost layer of the skin.

Conclusion

The practical managed to formulate a cream that can be used in the alleviation of
dermatophytotic infections.

Recommendations

From the observations made during the practical, it is therefore recommended to increase the
time for which the solutions is stirred during the practical so as to ensure uniform distribution
of the active pharmaceutical ingredient within the dispersion medium so as to ensure uniform
dosage when applying the cream.

References.

1. W. Kraus, "Biologically active ingredients-azadirachtin and other triterpenoids", in:

H. Schutterer (Ed.), The Neem Tree Azadirachta indica A. Juss and Other Meliaceous
Plants, Weinheim, New York, 1995, p 35-88
2. Development of eco-friendly polyurethane coatings based on neem oil
polyetheramide. A Chaudhari, V Gite, S Rajput, P Mahulikar, R Kulkarni. Industrial
Crops and Products 50, 550-55, 2013.
3. http://pmep.cce.cornell.edu/profiles/extoxnet/24d-captan/azadirachtin-ext.html
4. Ashok Chaudhari, Anil Kuwar, Pramod Mahulikar, Dilip Hundiwale, Ravindra
Kulkarni and Vikas Gite, RSC Advances, 4, 17866–17872, 2014