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FORMULATION AND EVALUATION OF EMULGEL GAHARU OIL

WITH BASE CARBOMER 940
1
Eti Fitriyani,2Nur Aji*,3Rani Rubiyanti
1,2,
3Politeknik Kesehatan Kemenkes tasikmalaya
etifitriyani13@gmail.com, 2nuraji090689@gmail.com, 3rani.rubiyanti@yahoo.co.id
1

ABSTRACT

Emulgel is a preparation that is widely used for formulations of materials that are difficult
to dissolve in water. Agarwood oil is hydrophobic in which its solubility is reduced in water. So it
takes the right carrier that is made emulgel. The purpose of this research is to determine the
effect of agarwood oil concentration on the evaluation of preparations. The concentration of
agarwood oil used in the formulation of emulgel is F1 5%, F2 7.5%, F3 10%, and F4 without
using agarwood oil. The testing method is done by physical evaluation and stability test of the
preparation for one week. Evaluation was carried out on several test parameters of the
preparation characteristics including organoleptic, pH, spreadability, homogeneity, and
syneresis. The results showed that the evaluation of agarwood oil emulgel for one week did not
change the color, aroma and dosage form. Based on the results of testing all four formulas look
homogeneous. The pH of the four formulas meets the skin pH requirements. The spread yield
results in F1 did not increase in F2 and F3 increased while in F4 the spread spread decreased.
The highest percentage of syneresis was found in formula 2 at 72 hours which is 57%. Of the
four formulas, good concentration that affects the physical evaluation of the preparation is
formula 3 with 10% agarwood oil concentration.

Keywords: emulgel, evaluation of preparation, agarwood oil

Introduction important in various fields. A component that

Gaharu began to be known to the
people of Indonesia around 1200, the use
value of agarwood was originally limited as a
body and room fragrances by burning
(fumigation). Along with the times, gaharu is
now also needed as an ingredient in the
herbal medicine industry for the treatment of
stress, asthma, rheumatism, inflammation of
the stomach and kidneys, antibiotics for
tuberculosis, tumors and cancer. There are
two genera of gaharu-producing plants,
namely Aquilaira sp, and Gyrinops sp,
belonging to the CITES Appendix II group. In
the world of trade, aloes are known as
agarwood, aloewood, or eaglewood1. Gaharu
has six chemical components that are
is very useful in its use for various purposes is
the sesquiterpene furanoid which consists of
α-agarofuran, β-agarofuran, agarosfirol.
and chromone. Gaharu oil was
originally formed from the tree's reaction to
bacterial or disease attack as a defense
mechanism against these attacks. Trees that
are attacked by disease or bacteria will
usually produce resin or resin as protection
and this resin will harden. Gaharu oil is
extracted using a distillation equipment.
In previous studies, agarwood oil was
known to have antioxidant activity and has the
potential to be antibacterial. The various
properties of agarwood oil are due to the
secondary metabolites containing 4-phenyl-2-
butanone, β-agarofuran, α-agarofuran, α-
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guaiene, 4- (4-methoxyphenyl) -2-butanone,
agarospirol, aristolen and eudesmol2.
Essential oils can dissolve in alcohol in
certain ratios and concentrations. The
purpose of the essential oil solubility test is to
determine the characteristics of the essential
oil. Thus it can be seen the amount and
concentration of alcohol required to
completely dissolve a certain amount of oil.
Gaharu oil is hydrophobic where its
solubility is reduced in water so it needs the
right carrier. Emulgel preparations have the
advantage of being a good carrier for
hydrophobic materials.
Emulgel is an emulsion, whether it is
the type of oil in water (M/A) or water in oil
(A/M), which is made into an emulgel
preparation by mixing the gel-forming
ingredients3. In dermatological use emulgel
has beneficial properties such as good
consistency, longer contact time, thixotropic,
transparent, moisturizing, easy to absorb,
easy to spread, easy to wash, easily dissolves
in water, and easily mixes with other
excipients4.
Based on the description above, it is
necessary to conduct research on the emulgel
formulation using a 940 carbomer base, and
to determine the effect of agarwood oil
concentration on the characteristics of
agarwood oil emulgel preparation. Several
evaluations were carried out on several test
parameters for the characteristics of the
preparation including organoleptic, pH,
dispersion, homogeneity, and syneresis. The
stability test was carried out on the emulgel
preparation at room temperature for one
week.
METHODS
Research design
This research is included in laboratory
experimental research. The research method
used to evaluate the physical emulgel and
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stability testing at room temperature for one
week. The characteristics of the tested
preparations were organoleptic testing,
homogeneity, pH measurement, dispersion,
and syneresis.
Tools
The tools used include digital scales, petri
dishes (60x 15 mm), mixers, refrigerators,
rulers, pH indicators (Merck) and other
glassware.
Materials
The materials used are agarwood oil,
carbomer 940, methyl paraben,
propylenglycol (Dow USP Food), TEA
(triethanolamine), propylparaben, twen 80,
span 80, aqua demineralisata (DM), and
ethanol 90%.
Solubility test of agarwood essential oil
1 mL of agarwood oil is put in a measuring
glass of 10 mL, then 90% ethanol is added
dropwise, after which each addition is
obtained a solution that is as clear as possible
at 20 ° C. Then compared the turbidity that
occurs with the turbidity of the comparison
solution5.
Emulgel making
The formula used refers to the research of Aji
and Herdiana6. The preparation is made
separately, namely phase A (gel) and phase B
(emulsion)
a) Phase A (gel)
Made by dissolving methylparaben in a
portion of propylenglycol in a beaker set
aside (1), put the 940 carbomer into the
beaker, add the remaining propylenglycol
mixer until homogeneous, add 1 mixer
mixture until homogeneous. Add aqua
DM, stir until homogeneous, then add
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TEA to pH 7, stir again until
homogeneous.
b) Phase B (emulsion)
Made by dissolving propylparaben in
propylenglycol in a mortar. Then mix
Tween 80, Span 80, and agarwood oil in
a beaker.
c) Phase A (gel) and phase B (emulsion)
are mixed together and stir until
homogeneous.
Table 1. Emulgel formula
Physical Evaluation of Preparations
Organoleptic Test
Organoleptic testing is carried out by
observing the preparation in terms of shape,
color and aroma7. The purpose of this test is
to determine the characteristics of the
preparation in terms of shape, color and
aroma.
Homogeneity Test
The homogeneity test is carried out to
observe the preparation which must be
homogeneous and the grains are not visible.
The preparation is weighed 0.1 gram and then
spread evenly and thinly on the slide. The
purpose of this test is to ensure the
distribution of the active substance when
applied to the skin.
PH test
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1 gram emulgel dissolved in 10 mL
aqua DM then the universal pH indicator is
compared with the standard found in the pH
indicator7. The purpose of this test is to
prevent irritation caused by the preparation
being incompatible with the pH of the skin.
Spreadability Test
The spreadability test is carried out by
placing a certain volume of preparation in the
center between two glass plates, where the
upper plate in a certain time interval is
burdened by placing a weight on it and then
the distribution diameter is recorded8. The
purpose of this test is to determine the
dispersive power of the emulgel when applied
to the skin.
Syneresis
Syneresis testing was carried out
during storage by storing the preparation at ±
10°C for 24, 48, 72 hours. Each is placed in a
cup to hold the water released from the gel
during storage9. The purpose of this test is to
determine the stability of the emulgel when
stored at a temperature of ± 10°C.
RESULTS
Solubility test of agarwood oil
Based on research that has been done,
agarwood oil can dissolve in 90% ethanol in a
ratio of 1: 5 to form a clear solution but a
yellow precipitate is formed.
Results of physical evaluation of
preparations
Organoleptic test
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4.55
Table 2. Organoleptic test results 4.5
4.45

Spreadability (cm)
Formula F1 F2 F3 F4
4.4
Colour 4.35
Aroma + ++ ++ ++ 4.3
Shape ** ** *** ***
4.25
Semi Semi Semi Semi
solid solid solid solid 4.2
4.15
Information : F1 F2 F3 F4
+ : putih *** : Strong Figure 1. Graph of spreadability test
++ : yellowish white ** : Moderate results
* : Weak
Syneresis
60 57 56
51 50
50 44
41
40 35 36
% syneresis

30 26
18 19 17
Homogeneity Test 20
10
Table 3. Homogeneity test results 0
The hour- The hour- The hour-
Formula The result 24 48 72
1 Homogeneous
2 Homogeneous F1 F2 F3 F4
3 Homogeneous
4 homogeneous Figure 2. Graph of syneresis test results

pH test
Discussion
Table 4.PH test results
Testing pH Solubility test of agarwood oil
F1 F2 F3 F4
1 5 5 5 6 The objective of agarwood oil testing is
2 5 5 5 6 to determine the characteristics of agarwood
oil. Oil solubility can change due to storage
time. This is because the polymerization
Spreadability test process reduces solubility. So that it requires
a high concentration of ethanol to dissolve it.
Poor storage conditions can accelerate
polymerization, including light, air, and the
presence of water, which can have an
adverse effect.
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Physical evaluation of agarwood oil
emulgel
Organoleptic Test
The observation for one week from the
four formulas did not change in terms of color,
aroma and dosage form, namely F1 and F4
were white, F2 and F3 were yellowish white,
the dosage forms of the four formulas were
semi-solid and had a distinctive odor of
agarwood oil.
Homogeneity Test
The homogeneity test aims to
determine whether the preparation of
preparations has been evenly mixed and to
ensure that the active substance is evenly
distributed to obtain optimal efficacy. The test
was carried out for one week and the four
agarwood oil emulgel preparations looked
homogeneous.
pH test
pH measurement aims to determine
the emulgel produced is acceptable for the pH
of the skin because it can cause skin irritation
if the preparation is more alkaline, the
ingredients in contact with the skin can cause
the skin to become dry, cracked, whereas if it
is too acidic it will cause the skin to become
irritated7. The pH measurement of the
preparations was carried out using a universal
pH indicator. Based on the pH measurement
results of the preparation for one week, it
shows that F1, F2 and F3 have a pH of 5,
unless F4 has a pH of 6, so that it meets the
criteria for the skin's pH range, namely 4.5-
6.5.
Spreadability test
The spreadability test of the four
formulas met the requirements because they
were included in the emulgel spreadability
range, namely 3-5 cm. The concentration of
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agarwood oil used had no effect on the value
of the dispersibility because the decrease and
increase in the value of the spreadability for
one week was not constant. This can be
caused by several factors, namely
uncontrolled humidity and a less impermeable
container. Both of these factors can have an
effect because they can absorb water so that
it can increase the volume of water in the gel
so that the viscosity of the preparation is
decreased. Because the spreadability of a
preparation is inversely proportional to the
viscosity of the preparation, the smaller the
viscosity of the preparation, the greater the
spreadability of the preparation10.
Syneresis
Syneresis is the discharge of water
from the gel where the gel shrinks so that it
tends to squeeze water out of the cell.
Syneresis testing is carried out by storing the
preparation in a refrigerator to determine the
stability of the emulgel if it is stored at cold
temperatures during the specified storage
time, namely for 24 hours, 48 hours and 72
hours. The syneresis test results of the 4
formulas that have the highest percentage
value of syneresis were obtained in formula 2
at the 72nd hour, namely 57%. Factors
affecting syneresis include acidity and water
holding capacity. This decrease in water-
binding capacity and syneresis can actually
be overcome by adding more carbomers or
with other stabilizers in the form of
hydrocolloids or water-soluble polymers.
Conclusions and suggestions
Agarwood oil can be formulated into
emulgel based on 940 carbomer in 1%
concentration. The characteristics of the
preparation met the requirements with several
parameters, namely the organoleptic test,
homogeneity, pH, dispersion and syneresis.
The results of the stability of the preparation
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for one week of stable agarwood oil emulgel
preparation. The best formula from several
concentrations of agarwood oil used is
formula 3. This can be seen based on the
results of the test results of the dispersion and
syneresis of the preparation.
Based on the research that has been
done, the suggestions that can be given in
further research are:
1. It is recommended that the viscosity test of
agarwood oil emulgel be carried out.
2. It is necessary to do hedonic testing to
determine the level of preference for
agarwood oil emulgel preparation.
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Toksisitas Akut Dermal Emulgel Kombinasi