Sebumetric and mexametric evaluation of a fennel based cream

Akhtar Rasul, Naveed Akhtar, Muhammad Iqbal, Barkat Ali Khan, Asadullah Madni, Ghulam Murtaza, Muhammad Khurram Waqas, Tariq Mahmood
2012 ScienceAsia  
This study aims to investigate the effects of a topical cream (emulsion) containing 4% extract of fennel (Foeniculum vulgare) on functional skin parameters like sebum content, skin melanin, and skin erythaema, using the base without fennel as a control. Fennel extract was entrapped in the inner aqueous phase of emulsion. The creams were applied to 11 healthy male volunteers for a period of 12 weeks. Skin parameters were measured fortnightly using a Mexameter MPA 5 and a Sebumeter MPA 5 to
more » ... ine the effects produced. The base showed insignificant (p > 0.05) increase while the active formulation showed significant (p 0.05) decrease in skin melanin and sebum content, which can be attributed to the presence of linoleic acid and oleic acids in fennel. Analysis using a paired sample t-test showed that the base decreased skin erythaema insignificantly while the formulation exerted a significant decrease indicating that it possessed anti-erythaemic effects. The formulation can therefore be used safely for the treatment of acne and as a skin whitening agent in males.
doi:10.2306/scienceasia1513-1874.2012.38.262 fatcat:cvo3zeg75beqnghfmbc7h3m2qe