FORMULATION AND EVALUATION OF POLYHERBAL CRACK HEEL STICK CONTAINING CARICA PAPAYA AND CURCUMA LONGA EXTRACTS

The present study focused on the development and evaluation of a polyherbal crack heel stick containing Carica papaya and Curcuma longa extracts, with the aim of providing an effective, natural solution for cracked heel management. The formulation process was carried out successfully, and all prepared batches (F1–F4) were evaluated for various physical and stability parameters. Among them, F4 emerged as the optimized formulation, demonstrating superior performance across all evaluation criteria. From a practical perspective, what makes this formulation stand out is its skin-friendly nature. The pH was found to be within the acceptable range, ensuring that it is compatible with human skin and safe for regular use. Additionally, the formulation showed excellent stability, with no significant changes observed during the study period. Another important aspect is that the optimized formulation was found to be non-irritant, making it suitable even for sensitive skin conditions. The healing effect was clearly evident, as the formulation helped in reducing dryness, improving skin texture, and promoting recovery of cracked heels. Overall, this study highlights that the developed heel stick is not just effective in laboratory evaluation but also practical and user-friendly in real-life application. Considering its stability, safety, and effectiveness, the formulation shows strong potential to be developed as a commercial herbal product for foot care.

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