Formulation of Ointment

Simple ointment bases were prepared using hard paraffin, cetostearyl alcohol, white soft paraffin, and wool fat according to the British Pharmacopoeia.^75,76 All the ingredients were melted together and stirred until it was cold.⁷⁷ Two types of ointment formulations were prepared from the extract: 5% w/w and 10% w/w. To prepare the ointments, 5 g and 10g of the powdered extract were incorporated into a portion of simple ointment base by levigating on the surface of the ointment slab to make an ointment of uniform consistency and smooth texture. The remainder of the simple ointment base was gradually added and mixed thoroughly. Finally, the ointment containing the extract was transferred to a clean container and labeled. The same procedure was adopted for the preparation of the ointments containing the respective fractions of the extract. Additionally, pre-formulated nitrofurazone ointment (0.2% w/w) was used as a standard drug for comparing the wound healing potential of the extract.⁷⁸