Development, Characterization, and Stability Evaluation of the Anti-Cellulite Emgel Containing Herbal Extracts and Essential Oils

Recently, the herbal compress was successfully developed and applied for cellulite treatment. The aim of this study was to formulate a more convenient dosage form of herbal application from the original formula. In addition, we aimed to characterize and evaluate the stability of the developed dosage form. A gelled emulsion, or an emgel, incorporated with 0.1 wt% tea and coffee extracts (1:1 ratio) plus 5 wt% essential oils (mixed oil) was prepared. The caffeine content in the finished product obtained from tea and coffee extracts analyzed by HPLC was 48.1 +/- 2.3 mu g/g. The bio-active marker monoterpenes of mixed oil characterized by headspace GCMS were camphene 50.8 +/- 1.8 mu g/mg, camphor 251.0 +/- 3.2 mu g/mg, 3-carene 46.7 +/- 1.8 mu g/mg, alpha-citral 75.0 +/- 2.1 mu g/mg, beta-citral 65.6 +/- 1.3 mu g/mg, limonene 36.8 +/- 6.7 mu g/mg, myrcene 53.3 +/- 4.5 mu g/mg, alpha-pinene 85.2 +/- 0.6 mu g/mg, beta-pinene 88.4 +/- 1.1 mu g/mg, and terpinene-4-ol 104.3 +/- 2.6 mu g/mg. The stability study was carried out over a period of 3 months at 4, 25, and 50 degrees C. The caffeine content showed no significant changes and passed the acceptance criteria of >= 80% at all tested temperatures. However, monoterpenes showed their stability for only 2 months at 50 degrees C. Therefore, the shelf-life of the emgel was, consequently, calculated to be 31 months using the Q10 method. Thus, the anti-cellulite emgel was successfully formulated. The characterization methods and stability evaluation for caffeine and monoterpenes in an emgel matrix were also successfully developed and validated.

Automated summary

The study successfully developed an anti-cellulite emgel with herbal ingredients, and evaluated its stability over a 31-month period. The formulated dosage form showed consistent caffeine content and stable monoterpenes for up to 2 months at 50 degrees Celsius.