Anti-inflammatory effect of a traditional herbal cream following dosage form transformation

To develop a topical cream formulation from a traditional Vietnamese herbal remedy (LXWLC) comprising Lonicera japonica, Xanthium strumarium, Wedelia chinensis, Lactuca indica, and Chromolaena odorata, and to evaluate its quality, skin irritation potential, and anti-inflammatory activity, thereby providing preliminary evidence for its potential application in inflammatory skin conditions.

LXWLC cream was prepared by emulsification and evaluated according to the Vietnamese Pharmacopoeia V and ASEAN standards. Total phenolic content was determined using the Folin-Ciocalteu method. Anti-inflammatory activity was assessed by nitric oxide inhibition in RAW264.7 macrophages, skin irritation in New Zealand White rabbits, and anti-inflammatory efficacy in a croton oil-induced ear edema model in Swiss albino mice.

The extract contained 226.89 ± 0.25 mg GAE/g of total phenolics and inhibited nitric oxide production (IC₅₀ = 54.7 ± 0.2 µg/mL). The cream met quality and safety requirements and caused no skin irritation. It reduced ear thickness by 51.04%, comparable to clobetasone 0.05% (58.49%) and significantly greater than the oral extract (20.49%) (p < 0.05).

LXWLC cream demonstrated favorable quality, safety, and anti-inflammatory activity, supporting its potential development as a topical herbal candidate for inflammatory skin conditions.