A REVIEW ON FORMULATION AND EVALUATION OF HERBAL BIOACTIVES LOADED NANOEMULSION FOR TREATMENT OF PSORIASIS AND ACNE VULGARIS

Abstract

Psoriasis and acne vulgaris are prevalent and chronic dermatological disorders. Psoriasis is an autoimmune-mediated condition characterized by the hyperproliferation of keratinocytes, resulting in erythematous, pruritic, and scaly plaques, while acne vulgaris is primarily driven by follicular hyperkeratinization, excess sebum production, and bacterial colonization, leading to severe inflammatory lesions. Conventional topical therapeutics often exhibit limited clinical efficacy due to the formidable barrier properties of the stratum corneum, which severely restricts the cutaneous permeation of active pharmaceutical ingredients. Furthermore, the prolonged administration of synthetic agents and topical corticosteroids is frequently associated with severe adverse effects, including cutaneous atrophy and the development of antimicrobial resistance. To mitigate these adverse effects, contemporary research has increasingly focused on phytotherapeutics and plant-derived bioactives, such as curcumin, tea tree oil, and aloe vera. While these natural compounds possess significant anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial properties alongside a favorable safety profile, their clinical translation is significantly impeded by their highly lipophilic nature and poor aqueous solubility. This inherent insolubility results in suboptimal skin penetration and restricted bioavailability when formulated in conventional topical vehicles. Nanoemulsion technology offers a robust strategy to overcome these physiochemical limitations. As thermodynamically stable, isotropic systems comprising oil, water, and an optimized blend of surfactants featuring nanometer-sized droplets, nanoemulsions markedly enhance the solubility of lipophilic herbal bioactives by encapsulating them within the internal lipid phase. Furthermore, the nanometric droplet size facilitates superior transdermal permeation across the stratum corneum, ensuring the targeted, deep delivery of therapeutic agents directly into the viable epidermal layers and pilosebaceous units to address the pathogenesis of psoriasis and acne vulgaris at their respective cellular sites of action.