Innovation: The use of plant extracts to develop topical herbal formulations which include monoherbal formulations of Chrysophllum albidum ( exocarp) peel extract, Chrysophllum albidum ( mesocarp) peel extract, Carica papaya leaf extract, Azadirachta indica leaves and Khaya senegalensis bark as well as combination of these five plants parts as a polyherbal extract which is developed as a polyherbal topical gel. Each of these varied herbal types would have different activity profiles because of their varied phytoconstituents profiles, hence antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial profiles. No documentation of similar herbal topical gel has been indicated.

Sector/Industry Application: HEALTH( PUBLIC HEALTH)

Description: Burns present as a global public health issue, accounting for an estimated 180 000 deaths annually. The majority of these occur in low and middle-income countries and almost two thirds occur in African and South-East Asia regions. Synthetic formulations which are often imported are majorly used for the chemotherapeutic intervention for burns. In developing countries, typified by Nigeria, healthcare provision is characterized by out of pocket payments,thus presents with challenges for the patient population who will need a cheaper and effective burn remedy. Nigeria has a high biodiversity of flora which can be explored based on their folkloric and ethnobotanical utility for the development of topical herbal formulations for burns. Thus, such plants Azadirachta indica(Meliaceae), Khaya senegalensis(Meliaceae), Carica papaya(Caricaceae), Chrysophllum albidum(Sapotaceae) were respectively identified, sourced, authenticated and appropriate plant parts subjected to preformulation characterizations(physiochemical, pharmacognostical and microbial), thereafter ethanolic extractions. The varied crude extracts were assessed for their specific antioxidant properties .The effect of acute topical application of the crude extracts on mice skin for ( skin irritancy test) as well as experimentally induced 1st, 2nd, and 3rd degree burns on experimental animals over a 15 day period were assessed and comparatively evaluated using silver sulphadiazine as a positive control. The effect of acute and sub-chronic topical administration of the plant extracts (single and combined) on the haematological, biochemical and histopathological profiles were determined using established protocols. The crude extracts ( single and combined or poly) were formulated into topical gels using appropriate pharmaceutical excipents; thereafter, the formulations were characterized and evaluated for( organoleptic, viscosity, pH, spreadability, homogenity syneresis and stability) properties in accordance to standard procedures. Triplicate determinations were undertaken and results statistically using ANOVA . Formulations were appropriately packaged,labelled and stored.

Problem: West-African sub region is challenged with issues of medicine security and self- sufficiency, furthermore, oftentimes chemo- therapeutics for burns is un-affordable to the patient population as healthcare provision is majorly characterized by out of pocket payment. This situation infers the need for local content inclusion of our pharmaceuticals. West –African sub-region has large biodiversity of flora which can be explored for their potentials as either active pharmaceutical ingredients or excipients. In the spirit of primary health care, cost-effective, affordable, available and patient friendly formulations which infers the utility of herbs with bioactive constituents should be explored for burn therapy. Furthermore, the cost of care for 2nd, 3rd or 4th degree burns maybe unbearably un-affordable for the patient population which necessitate the development of cost-effective, affordable and available herbal formulations for burns treatment. This is also because in the public and private care setting, herbal burn therapies are scarcely unavailable which infers the need for alternate, affordable, effective burn formulations/remedy