Cow Ghee as a Cost-Effective and Therapeutically Active Ointment Base

Cow ghee, a clarified form of butter derived from cow’s milk, holds a prominent place in Ayurvedic medicine due to its therapeutic and nourishing properties. It exhibits antioxidant, antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, and antiseptic activities, making it a valuable component for managing various skin conditions. One of its key advantages lies in its deep tissue penetration and enhanced absorption capacity, which facilitate effective delivery of active ingredients.

Ointment bases, typically semisolid preparations intended for application on the skin or mucous membranes, are categorized as hydrocarbon, absorption, water-removable, and water-soluble types. The present study aimed to develop and evaluate cow ghee-based ointment formulations in comparison with conventional bases.

The formulations incorporated ingredients such as cetostearyl alcohol, stearic acid, glyceryl monostearate, paraffin, and waxes, in combination with cow ghee. Stability studies were performed according to International Conference on Harmonization (ICH) guidelines, assessing parameters including color, appearance, odor, consistency, pH, spreadability, extrudability, loss on drying, solubility, and washability.

Key Findings:

• Cow ghee-based ointment formulations demonstrated excellent stability when combined with conventional bases.
• These formulations exhibited desirable physicochemical characteristics, such as a smooth, non-greasy texture, pleasant appearance, and compatibility with various therapeutic agents.
• Enhanced spreadability, extrudability, and solubility were observed in cow ghee-based preparations, improving their suitability as carriers for active compounds.

Conclusion:

The study underscores the potential of cow ghee as a natural, cost-effective, and stable ointment base for Ayurvedic and modern topical formulations. Its favorable physicochemical and therapeutic properties make it a promising vehicle for drug delivery and skin health applications.

Reference:

Wawre MB, Khobragade D, Mundhada D. An Emerging Approach for Optimization of Cow Ghee as an Ointment Base in Combination With Selected Conventional Bases. Cureus. 2023 Mar 22;15(3):e36556. doi:10.7759/cureus.36556. PMID: 37095810; PMCID: PMC10122110.