Tropical Journal of Pharmaceutical Research

Original Research Article | OPEN ACCESS

Effect of Cream Formulation of Fenugreek Seed Extract on Some Mechanical Parameters of Human Skin

N Akhtar¹, M K Waqas¹, M Ahmed¹, T Saeed², G Murtaza¹ , A Rasool¹, M N Aamir¹, S A Khan¹, N S Bhatti³, A Ali³

¹Department of Pharmacy, Faculty of Pharmacy and Alternative Medicines, The Islamia University of Bahawalpur, Bahawalpur 63100; ²College of Pharmacy, The University of the Punjab, Lahore; ³Department of Pharmacy, the University of Faislabad, Faisalabad, Pakistan.

For correspondence:- G Murtaza Email: gmdogar356@gmail.com Tel:+923142082826

Received: 20 January 2010 Accepted: 8 June 2010 Published: 25 August 2010

Citation: Akhtar N, Waqas MK, Ahmed M, Saeed T, Murtaza G, Rasool A, et al. Effect of Cream Formulation of Fenugreek Seed Extract on Some Mechanical Parameters of Human Skin. Trop J Pharm Res 2010; 9(4):329-337 doi: 10.4314/tjpr.v9i4.2

© 2010 The authors.
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Abstract

Purpose: To determine the effect of an emulsion formulation of fenugreek (Trigonella Foneum-Graecum L) seed extract on some mechanical parameters of the skin of healthy human volunteers.

Methods: A water-in-oil emulsion cream base without fenugreek seed extract which served as control, and a similar formulation containing 4 %w/v of the extract in the internal (aqueous) phase were prepared. Each of the formulations was applied to the cheeks of 10 human volunteers for a period of 4 weeks and some mechanical parameters (R0, R1, R2, R3, R4, R5, R6, R7, R8 and R9) of the skin were measured weekly using Cutometer MPA 580.

Results: The results indicate that the effects of the creams on skin mechanical properties were significant (p < 0.05) with respect to time, except for R4 and R9. The extract-containing cream substantially increased skin elasticity, hydration and the ability of skin to resist photo-aging when compared to the base.

Conclusion: Both the cream base and the cream containing fenugreek extract demonstrated significant (p < 0.05) improvement in all mechanical parameters related to skin elasticity, ageing, hydration and fatigue but the effect of the extract cream was more pronounced in some cases.

Keywords: Cutometer, Fenugreek seed extract, Skin elasticity, Skin ageing, Skin hydration