DEVELOPMENT OF HERBAL GEL USING NATURAL POLYMERS:A COMPREHENSIVE REVIEW

• Yashwardhan Kirar

  M.Pharm

  Author

• Rajendra Pal Singh Rathore

  Author

• Pulkit Rathore

  Author

• Anirudh Singh Deora

  Author

Herbal gels represent a rapidly advancing frontier in topical pharmaceutical formulation, combining the therapeutic efficacy of botanicals with the physicochemical advantages of natural polymer-based gel matrices. This comprehensive review examines the development of herbal gels using three principal plant actives—Aloe vera (Aloe barbadensis Miller), Curcuma longa (turmeric), and Azadirachta indica (neem)—incorporated into gel bases formulated from sodium alginate and pectin as primary natural polymers. The biological activities of each herbal ingredient are discussed in detail, including anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, antioxidant, and wound-healing properties. The physicochemical characteristics of sodium alginate and pectin as gelling agents, including gelation mechanisms, rheological behaviour, biodegradability, and biocompatibility, are reviewed critically. Formulation considerations such as polymer concentration, crosslinking, pH, spreadability, and drug release are explored. The review further highlights in vitro and in vivo evidence supporting the efficacy of these formulations and discusses current challenges and future prospects in the field. Natural polymer-based herbal gels offer a promising, safe, and cost-effective strategy for dermatological drug delivery, and continued research will be key to translating these formulations into validated clinical products.

Copyright (c) 2026 Yashwardhan Kirar, Rajendra Pal Singh Rathore, Pulkit Rathore, Anirudh Singh Deora (Author)

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.