The Effectiveness of Basil (Ocimum basilicum) as an Alternative

Treatment for Skin Pigmentation

Block 19-Euclid (STEM)

Lovlegin B. Diong Desiree Nitura

Angela Palamos Josephus Montero

Glezielyn Murillo Gian Roche

Ramon Abendano

A research topic

associated with the Scientific

Investigatory Project (SIP)

of the course Practical research 2

ACLC College of Tacloban

Senior High Department

Tacloban City, Leyte

 RATIONALE

Hyperpigmentation is a common problem on the skin that brings down the confidence of

every individual especially teenagers. These days, people became conscious of their

physical appearances because of the fear of judgments coming from others.

Hyperpigmentation can appear as brown, black, gray, red, or pink spots or patches. The

spots are sometimes called age spots, sun spots, or liver spots. The amount of pigment

in the skin is determined by the amount of melanin being produced by the body. Loss of

pigment (hypo pigmentation) can be caused by absence of melanocytes, malfunctioning

cells, exposure to cold or chemicals, or some types of infection. An increase in pigment

(hyperpigmentation) may be caused by skin irritation, hormonal changes, aging, a

metabolic disorder, or any other underlying problem. Age spots, freckles and melasma

are examples of hyper pigmentation. Vitiligo is an example of hypo pigmentation

(Tabassum & Hamdani, 2014). The other causes of Hyperpigmentation are Sun

Exposure, Skin Inflammation, Melasma, Reaction to drug use, and other medical

conditions (Sissons, 2022). Skin Care products and cosmetics are in demand

nowadays. People buy these products to heal their skin problems while others go to a

Dermatologist but some individuals cannot afford them because derma and other

products are too expensive especially for teenagers.

Treatments made from herbal plants can be a great alternative to these products.

Herbal therapy for skin disorders has been used for thousands of years. Even our

biologically close relatives, the great apes, use herbal self-medication (Huffman, 2001).
Basil (Ocimum basilicum), also called sweet basil, is an annual herb of the mint family

(Lamiaceae) grown for its aromatic leaves. Basil is likely native to India and is widely

grown as a kitchen herb (T. Britannica, 2022). The essential oil of Basil has

antimicrobial, antifungal, insect-repelling, anticonvulsant, hypnotic, and antioxidant

(Joshi, 2014).  Basil oil possesses great anti-inflammatory properties that work well in

warding off skin irritations, small wounds, and sores. The soothing effects of basil

leaves help in healing eczema. The goodness of vitamin C boosts skin cells metabolism

and elasticity (Binu, 2022). The antioxidant properties of basil may also help skin

pigmentation problems. As mentioned, antioxidants reduce free radical production and

combat oxidative stress. Antioxidant-rich ingredients also help combat environmental

stressors such as UV rays and pollution, these two are the major causes of

pigmentation (Bennett 2022).

According to a study conducted by (Rasul, et al. 2011), They find out the effects of a

newly formulated topical cream (w/o emulsion) of basil against its base as a control on

skin erythema and skin melanin. Concentrated basil extract was entrapped in the inner

aqueous phase of w/o emulsion. A newly formulated and formerly evaluated base

(containing no extract) and a formulation (containing 3% concentrated extract of basil)

were applied. Both the base and formulation were applied to the cheeks of 11 healthy

human volunteers for 12 weeks. Skin erythema and melanin were determined every two

weeks to measure any effect produced by these topical creams. The base showed

insignificant (p≥0.05) whereas the formulation showed a statistically significant decrease

in skin erythema. Skin melanin content was significantly (p≤0.05) increased by the base

but decreased by the formulation.

In this study, the Newly formulated cream of basil extract reduced skin melanin without

causing any irritation and was found to be suitable for application on skin as determined

by efficacy perception and can be an effective treatment for skin pigmentation.

References
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Britannica, T. 2022. "Basil Encyclopedia." Accessed september 16, 2022.

Huffman, M A. 2001. "Self-medicative behavior in the african great apes:An evolutionary perspective
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Manual, M. 2021. "Hyperpigmentation."

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