INVESTIGATION OF PHYSICOCHEMICAL STABILITY AND ANTI-PSORIATIC EFFICACY OF LAVENDER OIL NANOEMULSION IN PSORIATIC HaCaT CELLS
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.22159/ijap.2026v18i4.58875Keywords:
HaCaT, IL-17, IL-22, Lavender oil, Nanoemulsion, PsoriasisAbstract
Objective: The objective of this research was to develop a nanoemulsion of lavender oil (LO) and evaluate its physicochemical properties. The effects of LO relevant to psoriasis were also determined on stimulated human keratinocyte (HaCaT) cells by evaluating its cytotoxicity, anti-microbial potential, and alterations in the levels of pro-inflammatory markers.
Methods: A stable LO-based nanoemulsion was developed using a pseudo-ternary phase diagram approach, employing Tween 80 (T80) and Transcutol P (Tp) in a 2:1 ratio. The optimized formulation exhibited a particle size (PS) of 98.91 ± 1.02 nm, zeta potential (ZP) of −11 ± 0.98, and a polydispersity index (PDI) of 0.174 ± 0.001. The formulation was evaluated for anti-oxidant and antimicrobial activity, cytotoxicity against stimulated HaCaT cells and its effect on pro-inflammatory cytokine expression.
Results: The developed LO nanoemulsion demonstrated measurable radical scavenging activity and a weak antimicrobial effect against Staphylococcus aureus. Batch A3 showed high cytotoxicity in stimulated HaCaT cells with an IC₅₀ value of 0.4198 ± 0.047 µL/mL, compared to 7.843 ± 0.029 µL/mL for dithranol. Additionally, the formulation reduced the expression of interleukin-17 (IL-17) by 10% and interleukin-22 (IL-22) by 29%.
Conclusion: The findings indicate that the LO nanoemulsion exhibits in vitro anti-inflammatory and cytotoxic effects relevant to psoriatic conditions, including oxidative stress, microbial activity, and inflammatory mediators. However, these observations are based on in vitro findings and should be interpreted as preliminary. Further in-depth in vivo and clinical investigations are required to establish its therapeutic relevance.
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