Galenic development of a Magnolia officinalis-based gel with antimicrobial properties for acne treatment
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.53732/rccsalud/2025.e7122Keywords:
antimicrobials, Magnolia officinalis, acne, gelsAbstract
Introduction. Acne is a highly prevalent multifactorial inflammatory disease whose conventional treatment with antibiotics and retinoids is limited by adverse effects, bacterial resistance, and poor adherence. This drives the search for safer and more effective alternatives, such as natural products. Magnolia officinalis contains honokiol and magnolol, compounds with documented antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory activity. Developing topical formulations like gels can optimize their cutaneous delivery, improve stability, and facilitate application on oily or acne-prone skin. Objective. To develop and characterize a topical gel based on Magnolia officinalis extract with antimicrobial properties for acne treatment.
Materials and Methods. Three gel variants with different excipient ratios were formulated, selecting the optimal one based on physicochemical and organoleptic parameters. Quality controls (pH, viscosity, density, TLC) were performed, and antimicrobial activity was evaluated against Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 25923 using disk and well diffusion methods. Results. The selected formulation showed pH 5.5, viscosity of 159.7 cP, density of 1.039 g/mL, and positive identification of the extract by TLC. Antimicrobial testing recorded average inhibition halos of 9.6 mm (disks) and 10.6 mm (wells) against S. aureus. Conclusion. The gel developed with Magnolia officinalis showed suitable physicochemical properties and good in vitro antibacterial activity against S. aureus, suggesting its potential as a natural, safe, and sustainable topical alternative for acne management.
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