Formulation and Physical Properties Testing of Spray Gel Preparation of Ethyl Acetate Extract of Ketapang (Terminalia atappa) Leaves

Abstract

Bioactive compounds from plants have long been used in the development of pharmaceutical and cosmetic formulations, particularly for effective and stable topical applications. One plant that has great potential is ketapang (Terminalia catappa) leaves, which contain flavonoids, saponins, and tannins with broad pharmacological activities. This study aims to develop a spray gel formulation of ethyl acetate extract of ketapang leaves and evaluate its physical stability. Ethyl acetate extract of ketapang leaves was extracted using maceration method and used in three spray gel formulations with varying extract concentrations. Physical stability evaluation was conducted by measuring viscosity, pH, homogeneity, spray pattern, and temperature stability during accelerated storage using the cycling test method. The results showed that all spray gel formulas remained stable in terms of color, odor, texture, and homogeneity after storage. Viscosity decreased slightly in formulas I and III but remained within the acceptable range. The pH of the preparation was stable within the physiological range of 4.5-6.5, which is safe for the skin. The spray pattern remained optimal despite slight changes after storage. The stability test showed that the spray gel had good resistance to high temperature and other storage conditions. This study proves that ketapang leaf ethyl acetate extract spray gel has potential as a topical product that is stable, effective, and safe, and opens up opportunities for further research on its therapeutic effectiveness.