Ultraviolet radiation (UVR) has been shown to cause skin disorders, including sunburn and symptoms such as erythema, ageing and formation of wrinkles, pigmentation or dyspigmentation, DNA damage and ultimately photocarcinogenesis on prolonged exposure. It has been reported that sunscreens have beneficial effects in reducing the incidence of skin disorders and protect the skin against exogenous and endogenous harmful agents by absorption, scattering and by blocking phenomena. Ultraviolet (UV) rays are classified into three wavelengths UV-A, UV-B and UV-C. The generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS), which can react with DNA, proteins, and fatty acids in the skin causes oxidative damage and impairment of antioxidant system in the human body is triggered by skin exposure to sunlight and other climatic circumstances. Such injuries disrupt the skin’s regulation pathways, causing photoaging and the development of skin cancer. Active ingredient of sunscreen agents are synthetic substances which are divided into organic and inorganic filters used in the market. Synthetic agents have shown some serious side effects. Therefore, to overcome this deleterious effects natural sunscreens were found by the researchers from nature. Natural products are efficacious as sunscreens and produce healing, softening, rejuvenating, and sunscreen effects. However, the use of sunscreen has faced many challenges, including inducing photoallergic dermatitis, environment pollution, and deficiency of vitamin D production. Therefore, consumers should efficiently apply suitable herbal formulations to improve sun protection as well as to avoid the side effects of synthetic sunscreens.

1. Herbal Sunscreen Formulations
Prepared by Rajvee Mewada
B.Pharm
Guided by Dr. Yamini D. Shah
(Head of Department, Pharmaceutics & Pharmaceutical Technology)
1

2. Contents
• AIM and Objective
• Rationale
• Introduction
• Skin
• Types of UV radiations and their effects on skin layers
• Sunscreen
• Classification of Sunscreen agents
• Experimental section/Plan of work
• Formulation development of sunscreen agents
• Literature review
• Evaluation parameters
2

3. Aim & Objective
AIM:
• The aim of present work is to formulate, develop and evaluate different herbal sunscreen
formulations.
Objectives:
• To develop sunscreen formulation using herbal ingredients
• To develop various formulations
• To perform physicochemical characterization
• To achieve maximum stability of formulations
• To achieve maximum UV protecting effects
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4. Rationale
For selection of herbal formulation:
• Not only protect the skin from harmful UV rays but also from the harmful chemicals
• Chemical based sunscreen gets absorbed in the skin containing harmful ingredients that
cause discomfort and itchiness to the skin
For selection of herbal sunscreen agents:
• Polyphenolic substances and organic UV filters have structural similarities
• Having broad spectrum of UV absorbance
• Also provide anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory effects
• Less likely to cause any skin irritation
4

5. Introduction
• Sunlight is an electromagnetic radiation
• UV region of solar spectrum: directly responsible for tanning and sunburn
• Ultraviolet (UV) radiations: cause damaging effects like sunburn, photoaging reactions,
erythema and inflammation
• Climatic effects changes from place to place: can cause impact on Ultraviolet index
• Special attention should be paid to protecting skin from direct exposure to UV radiations
• Application of photoprotective agents 5
Reference (1,2,3)

6. Skin
Types of skin: based on how they respond to UV rays
(Fitzpatrick scale: six types of skin)
1. Skin type I (Always burns easily; never tans;
white skin and freckles)
2. Skin type II (Burns easily; tans minimally;
white skin)
3. Skin type III (Burns moderately; tans
gradually; fair or beige skin)
4. Skin type IV (Burns minimally; tans easily;
brown skin)
5. Skin type V (Rarely burns; tans profusely;
darker brown skin)
6. Skin type VI (Never burns; deeply pigmented;
black skin)
6
Reference (4)

7. Types of UV radiations & their effects on skin layers
7
Reference (5,6,7)

8. Sunscreen
• Designed to be used topically
• To prevent UV radiation from entering the skin directly by absorbing or reflecting from the skin
• Used to treat skin damaging effects
• Protect skin from sunburn
• Reducing the incidence of skin disorders
• Protect the skin against exogenous and endogenous harmful agents
8
Reference (8,9)

9. Ideal properties of sunscreen
• Must absorb a broad range of UV rays causing sunburn
• Must be stable in the presence of sunlight
• Should be able to provide complete protection for skin
• Should not be easily washed away with water
• Should be safe, effective, chemically inert at low concentration
• Should not cause irritation, sensitization and toxicity
• Capable of retaining Sunscreening property for several hours
9
Reference (1,2,10,11)

10. Classification of sunscreen agents
Sunscreens provide UV protection in two ways
By preventing
free radical
formation
(through UV
filters)
By scavenging
free radicals
(via
antioxidants)
10
Reference (12)

11. Classification of sunscreen agents
11
Reference(13,14)

12. Demerits of Synthetic UV filters
• Over time, sunscreen loses its effectiveness, which causes breakdown of the absorbing molecule.
• Due to their small size, Molecules may permeate the skin and induce systemic effects
• Benzophenone-3 (BZ-3) or Oxybenzone: cause endocrine hormone disruption
• Menthyl anthranilate (meradimate): produce harmful reactive oxygen species
• Avobenzone and Dibenzoylmethanes: promoting phototoxic, photosensitizing, and photoallergic
contact dermatitis
• Para-aminobenzoic acid (PABA): allergic dermatitis and photosensitivity
• Padimate O (Octyl dimethyl PABA): cause DNA damage, estrogenic activity, and allergic reactions
• Octinoxate (octyl methoxycinnamate) and Oxybenzone: negative effect on the coral reefs
• Salicylic acid: inhibits cholesterol sulfotransferase
• 4-methylbenzylidene camphor (enzacamene): endocrine disruptor with estrogenic activity
12
Reference (15,16,17)

13. Conclusion
Why herbal sunscreen formulation?
• Synthetic products present in formulation are effective, but they have side effects
(endometriosis, cytotoxicity, genotoxicity)
• To overcome this problem, natural agents are used
Natural agents:
Polyphenolic substances and organic UV filters have structural similarities, so they are as
efficacious as synthetic products
Less side effects on the skin than synthetic products
Provide UV absorbing properties, antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects
Protect the skin from harmful effects (e.g., photoaging, wrinkles, and pigment)
13
Reference (2,9,18)

14. Examples of herbal sunscreen agents
• Butter: Shea butter
• Oil: Almond oil, Soybeans oil (Glycine max), Olive oil, Coconut oil, Castor oil, Mustard oil,
Sesame oil
• Powder: Saffron (Crocus sativus)
• Fresh green shells: Walnut (Juglans regia)
• Extract:
Leaves extract: Green and black tea (Camellia sinensis), Giloy (Tinospora cordifolia)
Seed extract: Grape seed (Vitis vinifera), Lemon (Citrus limon)
Root extract: Liquorice (Glycyrrhiza glabra)
Fruit extract: Tomato (Solanum lycopersicum), Amla (Emblica officinalis), Lemon (Citrus limon)
Stem bark extract: Arjun tree (Terminalia arjuna)
Flower extract: Marigold (Calendula officinalis), Jasmine (Jasminum officinale)
14
Reference (9)

15. Experimental section/Plan of work
Herbal extract
• Liquorice (Glycyrrhiza glabra)
• Guduchi/Giloy (Tinospora cordifolia)
• Arjuna tree (Terminalia arjuna)
Pharmacological activity
• Anti-inflammatory effect
• Anti-oxidant effects
• Skin whitening activity
• Wound healing
15
Reference (19,20,21)

16. Formulation development
• Maximum Sunscreen products can be formulated in the form of-
Lotion
Creams
Gels
Powders
16

17. General evaluation parameters for raw materials
Preparation of herbal extract
 Collection, identification and pre-treatment of sample
 Extraction of plant material
 Determine total solid content (%yield)
UV spectrophotometric analysis
Pharmacognostical parameters
 Preliminary phytochemical evaluation: to detect the presence of chemical
constituents
 Determination of total polyphenolic content (Gallic acid equivalence method): by
using Folin-Ciocalteu reagent
 Determination of total flavonoid content (Aluminium chloride colorimetric
method) 17

18. Evaluation parameters for specific formulation
Lotion
• Color and odor
• pH
• Viscosity
• Spreadability
• Sedimentation
volume
• Redispersibility
• Freeze thaw
method
• Creaming
Cream
• Color and odor
• pH
• Viscosity
• Spreadability
• Extrudability
• Rancidity
Gel
• Color and odor
• Homogeneity
• Consistency
• Separation
• pH
• Freeze-Thaw cycle
• Centrifugation test
• Spreadability
• Viscosity
• Extrudability
Powder
• Shade Test
• Color Dispersion
Test
• Pay-off Test
• Breakage Test
• Flow property Test
• Particle size
Determination
• Abrasive Character
• Moisture Content
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19. General evaluation parameters for final sunscreen
formulations
Determination of sun protection factors (SPF)
SPF spectrophotometric = CF×SPF spectrophotometric
=σ290
320
𝐸𝐸 𝜆 𝐴𝑏𝑠 𝜆 × CF
where,
CF = Correction factor (10)
EE = Erythrogenic effect of radiation with wavelength (λ)
Abs(λ) = Spectrophotometric absorbance values at wavelength
The value of EE × I is constant
Skin irritation test
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25. Thank you
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