Formulation and In Vitro Anticandidal Evaluation of a Herbal Face Serum Containing Combined Aqueous Leaf Extracts of Artocarpus Heterophyllus Lam. and Terminalia Catappa L.

Author

Kavya D S, Madhura K, Nanditha K S, Shreyas M, Vivek N Bhaskar

Abstract

 Background: Superficial fungal infections are increasingly difficult to treat because of azole resistance and drug-related adverse effects, which has renewed interest in plant-derived topical antifungals. The leaves of Artocarpus heterophyllus (jackfruit) and Terminalia catappa (Indian almond) are rich in phenolics, flavonoids and tannins with reported antimicrobial activity. 

Objective: To authenticate and characterise both leaves, to prepare a face serum containing their combined aqueous extracts, and to evaluate its physicochemical properties and in vitro anticandidal activity. 

Methods: Leaves were authenticated, studied macroscopically and microscopically, and extracted by aqueous maceration. Ash values, loss on drying, moisture content and preliminary phytochemical screening were determined. A xanthan gum-based serum containing 2% w/w of each extract was evaluated for appearance, pH, viscosity, spreadability, homogeneity, washability, absorption time and short-term stability. Antifungal activity against Candida albicans MTCC 183 was assessed by agar well diffusion, with fluconazole (1 mg/mL) as positive and placebo serum as negative control. 

Results: Extractive yields were 13.8% w/w (T. catappa) and 10.24% w/w (A. heterophyllus). Both extracts contained alkaloids, flavonoids, tannins/phenolics, steroids, reducing sugars and amino acids. The serum was homogeneous and easily spreadable, with a pH of 5.12 and a viscosity of 1300 cP, and was visually stable for 10 days under light and dark storage. The test serum produced a 12 mm zone of inhibition against Candida albicans (fluconazole, 20 mm; placebo, none). 

Conclusion: The combined-extract serum is a stable, skin-compatible formulation with measurable anticandidal activity. Because individual extracts were not tested in parallel and dermatophytes were not included, synergy and dermatophyte activity remain to be established.

Keywords

Artocarpus heterophyllus; Terminalia catappa; herbal antifungal serum; Candida albicans; well diffusion assay; topical formulation; phytochemical screening

Full Text:

Download Paper PDF

References

1. Baliga MS, Shivashankara AR, Haniadka R, Dsouza J, Bhat HP. Phytochemistry, nutritional and pharmacological properties of Artocarpus heterophyllus (jackfruit): a review. Food Res Int. 2011;44(7):1800-1811.
2. Vázquez-González Y, Ragazzo-Sánchez JA, Calderón-Santoyo M. Characterization and antifungal activity of jackfruit (Artocarpus heterophyllus ) leaf extract obtained using conventional and emerging technologies. Food Chem. 2020;330:127211.
3. Gupta A, Marquess AR, Pandey AK, Bishayee A. Jackfruit (Artocarpus heterophyllus ) in health and disease: a critical review. Crit Rev Food Sci Nutr. 2023;63(23):6344-6378.
4. Sreeja Devi PS, Kumar NS, Sabu KK. Phytochemical profiling and antioxidant activities of different parts of Artocarpus heterophyllus (Moraceae): a review on current status of knowledge. Futur J Pharm Sci. 2021;7:30.
5. Prakash O, Kumar R, Mishra A, Gupta R. Artocarpus heterophyllus (jackfruit): an overview. Pharmacogn Rev. 2009;3(6):353-358.
6. Rawat S, Sati OP, Tomar A. Evaluation of phytochemical and antimicrobial effect of Artocarpus heterophyllus leaves extract. World J Pharm Sci. 2014;2(6):591-594.
7. Betancourt-Rodríguez J, Menéndez-Barrios A, Ragazzo-Sánchez JA, López-Cruz R, Calderón-Santoyo M. Antimicrobial evaluation of jackfruit leaf extract (Artocarpus heterophyllus) using isothermal microcalorimetry and conventional methods. J Microbiol Methods. 2026;247:107581.
8. Anand AV, Divya N, Kotti PP. An updated review of Terminalia catappa. Pharmacogn Rev. 2015;9(18):93-98.
9. Terças AG, Monteiro AS, Moffa EB, et al. Phytochemical characterization of Terminalia catappa extracts and their antifungal activities against Candida spp. Front Microbiol. 2017;8:595.
10. Mwangi WC, Waudo W, Shigwenya ME, Gichuki J. Phytochemical characterization, antimicrobial and antioxidant activities of Terminalia catappa methanol and aqueous extracts. BMC Complement Med Ther. 2024;24:137.
11. Nair R, Chanda S. Antimicrobial activity of Terminalia catappa, Manilkara zapota and Piper betel leaf extract. Indian J Pharm Sci. 2008;70(3):390-393.
12. Chanda S, Rakholiya K, Dholakia K, Baravalia Y. Antimicrobial, antioxidant, and synergistic properties of two nutraceutical plants: Terminalia catappa and Colocasia esculenta L. Turk J Biol. 2013;37(1):81-91.
13. Colendres RB, Pradera CLM. In vitro activity of Indian almond (Terminalia catappa) leaf crude extracts against selected dermatophytes. Ann Trop Res. 2021;43(1):55-66.
14. Khandelwal KR. Practical Pharmacognosy: Techniques and Experiments. 19th ed. Pune: Nirali Prakashan; 2008.
15. World Health Organization. Quality Control Methods for Herbal Materials. Geneva: WHO Press; 2011.
16. Harborne JB. Phytochemical Methods: A Guide to Modern Techniques of Plant Analysis. 3rd ed. London: Chapman & Hall; 1998.
17. ICH Harmonised Tripartite Guideline Q1A(R2): Stability Testing of New Drug Substances and Products. Geneva: International Council for Harmonisation; 2003.
18. Zai MJ, Cheesman MJ, Cock IE. Phytochemical evaluation of Terminalia catappa extracts with antibacterial and antibiotic potentiation activities against b-lactam drug-resistant bacteria. Int J Mol Sci. 2026;27(1):177.