Abstract

Background: High citral content lemongrass essential oil (Cympogogon citratus) has a potential to inhibit Propionibacterium acnes (P. acnes), the bacteria that is the main cause of acne. The aim of this research is to develop a process for preparing an anti-P. acnes cream from lemongrass essential oil that meets basic requirements and has anti-P. acnes activity. Materials and Methods: Investigate the emulsifier ratio and the phase ratio (oil: water: emulsifier) to create a stable and sustainable cream formula; evaluate criteria on qualitative, quantitative, homogeneity, etc.; and test the biological activity of the product using the agar plate diffusion method. Results: The research results have developed a cream formula containing a citral content of 46.39 μg/ml and a pH of about 6.3 suitable for skin. The prepared product is resistant to P. acnes bacteria with a sterile zone diameter of 14 mm. Conclusion: We tested an acne treatment cream with active ingredients from lemongrass essential oil to determine its inhibitory activity against P. acnes bacteria, which causes acne in humans. This study serves as a scientific basis for further research