Pharmaceutical Application of Thermally Modified Arrinrasho Clay as Sunscreen Agent

Abstract

The overexposure of animal skin to natural sun rays often display a debilitating effect that may manifest as skin cancers and ulcers. Topical sunscreens creams are applications that are readily used to address the issue of prolong exposure to UVA and UVB rays. Materials, such as clay has been used around the world for centuries by indigenous people as an important medicinal and cosmetic tool. The objective of the study is to evaluate the sunscreen potentials of locally obtained Arrinrasho clay deposit in Barkin Ladi, Plateau State, Central Nigeria, The sampling points were located by GPS corresponding to latitude (09° 51’ 56.4˝ to 09° 28´´ 55.5˝), longitude (008° 51’05.6˝ to 08° 51’11.4˝) and an elevation between (4305 to 4590)ft. The beneficiated and pulverized thermally modified (BPTM) and the non-modified clay samples were tested for microbial contamination. Four sunscreen creams were formulated using standard zinc oxide cream formula and replacing the zinc oxide with the clay sample as the active ingredient. The formulated sunscreen creams were evaluated for topical Sun Protective Factor (SPF) on albino rat's skin, physical appearance and pH. The formulated creams were compared with commercially used Aloe sunscreen cream with SPF 30. The results indicated that the thermally modified clay sample was free from microbial contamination unlike the non modified clay sample which was found to be contaminated with Staphylococcus aureus and Bacillus specie. The new formulation provided a similar efficacy against sunburn as the commercially used Aloe sunscreen cream with sun protective factor value (mean ± SD) of 5.67 ± 2.57, 5.00 ± 2.22 and 5.00 ± 2.22 for the standard, modified and non modified sunscreen formulations respectively. The BPTM Arrinrasho clays presented a high potential as sunscreen agent.